The Environment Agency (EA) has launched a new charging scheme for activities involving fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gas) and ozone-depleting substances (ODS). The scheme, applicable to England, Scotland, and Wales, follows the EA’s December 2024 consultation. The EA has also published accompanying statutory guidance on the charging scheme, detailing the specific charges applicable to these activities.

The Environment Agency (EA) has launched a consultation on proposed updates to its enforcement and sanctions policy to incorporate the Clean Heat Market Mechanism (CHMM). The consultation, running until 15 July 2025, seeks views on the application of daily penalties and discretionary aspects of the enforcement regime. This follows the EA's appointment as Scheme Administrator under the Clean Heat Market Mechanism Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/81), which was laid in November 2024. The consultation specifically addresses updates to Annex 2 of the enforcement policy regarding climate change civil penalties, while existing policy requirements approved by Parliament remain outside its scope.

The Environment Agency (EA) has launched a consultation, seeking views on the development of Environmental Assessment Levels (EALs) for the amine-based carbon capture process. To assist the industry with permit applications, the EA has developed EALs for various amines and amine derivative products associated with the carbon capture process, using an updated approach based on available toxicological data. The consultation outlines the derived EALs and proposes a new methodology for establishing EALs where there is insufficient toxicological data. The EA will utilise stakeholder feedback to refine its approach. The consultation closes on 13 March 2025.

The Environment Agency (EA) has launched a four-week consultation on a proposed variation to the combustion permit at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station near Bridgwater. NNB Generation Company (HPC) Limited has applied for permit variation EPR/ZP3238FH/V004 to allow installation of additional backup generators and changes to existing permitted generators, intended to improve site resilience during loss of off-site power. The consultation closes on 16 June 2026, with the EA’s final decision expected by autumn 2026.

The Environment Agency (EA) has opened a consultation seeking views on proposed updates to the additional subsistence charge for materials facilities. The EA aims to recover the entire cost of their services and has examined their fees to take into account inflationary pressures, changes in the cost of providing services and costs of duties under the new materials facilities regulations that will come into effect on 1 October 2024. The EA further stated that the new regulations will achieve goals for quality of recyclable materials and explore relationships between materials facility data reporting and extended producer responsibility for packaging. This consultation will close on 5 June 2024.

The Environment Agency (EA) has launched a consultation titled ‘River basin planning: working together 2024’, as the first consultation in the process of reviewing and updating river basin management plans (RBMPs) for 2027. It outlines the consultation steps, proposed timetable, and options for stakeholder involvement in the updated plans. The EA seeks input on the collaborative approach, including identifying key organisations, relevant plans and strategies for consideration, and effective engagement methods. The consultation closes on 14 May 2025.

The Environment Agency (EA) has launched a consultation on proposed guidance for operators of new or substantially refurbished electricity generators on preparing decarbonisation readiness reports as part of their permit applications. The consultation closes on 9 May 2025.

The Environment Agency (EA) has launched a consultation, seeking views on the proposed updates to its enforcement and sanctions policy to include the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) and Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). The consultation focuses on the proposed revisions to section A to take account of the UK ETS and CORSIA, the new section G for UK ETS and the new section H for CORSIA. The consultation closes at 11:59pm on 16 July 2024.

The Environment Agency (EA) has launched a consultation on proposed new regulatory charges for fluorinated greenhouse gases (F Gas) and ozone depleting substances (ODS). The consultation seeks stakeholder views on the introduction of fees for new F gas registrations from April 2025 and annual subsistence. For ODS, the proposals include charges for new registrations from April 2025, applications for import/export licences and quotas, laboratory ODS service declarations, and annual subsistence. These charges aim to fund the EA’s regulatory work in managing online business registrations for these substances. The consultation closes on 13 February 2025.

The Environment Agency (EA) has launched a consultation on proposals to introduce new and update existing regulatory waste charges for specific waste activities, effective from April 2025. The consultation outlines four key proposals, including a 10% waste levy to increase enforcement activities, updated hourly rates for regulatory work, a waste fee for intervention to recover costs where operators lack proper authorisation, and registration and compliance charges for waste exemptions. The consultation closes on 20 January 2025.

The Environment Agency (EA) has launched a consultation, seeking views on proposed new standard rules for using unbound incinerator bottom ash aggregate (IBAA) in construction as a deposit for recovery operation. The consultation aims to establish a long-term regulatory framework to replace the EA's current regulatory position statement for the use of IBAA, which expires in January 2025. The proposed rules would apply only to IBAA produced from the incineration of municipal solid waste. The consultation seeks stakeholder feedback to determine whether the proposed rules effectively mitigate environmental and human health risks associated with this activity. The consultation closes on 3 March 2025.

The Environment Agency (EA) has launched a consultation on proposed changes to its charging structure for greenhouse gas emissions schemes. The consultation covers updates to charges for the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS), Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), and the UK’s Kyoto Protocol national registry. It also outlines charge proposals for areas of UK ETS expansion, including maritime activities and energy from waste and waste incineration installations from January 2026. The EA is seeking stakeholder input on the proposed charging structure and invites suggestions to ensure the charges are fair and equitable. The consultation closes on 24 January 2025.