The Environment Agency has approved (Tuesday 10 October) Third Energy’s hydraulic fracture plan (frack plan) for its well site at Kirby Misperton in North Yorkshire.

An approved frack plan is required before the company starts fracking under the conditions of the operator’s environmental permit, which was issued by the Environment Agency in April 2016 after extensive public consultation.

The Environment Agency is confident, following a thorough assessment of the frack plan, that Third Energy has demonstrated it has the right procedures in place to control and monitor the fracturing process. The plan will be available to view on the Environment Agency’s Citizen Space website.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:

We are satisfied with Third Energy’s arrangements for monitoring during and after hydraulic fracturing. The Environment Agency is committed to ensuring that shale gas operations meet the highest environmental standards and can only go ahead if they are safe for people and the environment.

Our environmental permits set out the legal conditions needed to protect groundwater, surface water and air quality and to ensure the safe storage, management and disposal of waste. Our staff will continue to carry out regular on-site checks and audits to ensure that the company is meeting the high standards we require.

The fracture plan and other operational documents relating to Third Energy’s operation can be found on the Environment Agency’s Citizen Space website.

The Environment Agency has extended the deadline for its public consultation on the draft environmental permit for the proposed energy from waste facility at Rookery Pit, Stewartby, Bedfordshire, which would be operated by Covanta Energy Limited.

The public consultation period has been extended by 2 weeks and will now run from 11 September to 7 November 2017 to allow people more time to read all the available information.

A permit will only be issued by the Environment Agency if it is satisfied that the facility will be designed, built, operated and maintained in such a way that the requirements of the relevant EU Directives are met and that human health and the environment are protected.

This will be decided following consultation with the relevant local councils and their health departments, the Food Standards Agency, Public Health England, the Health and Safety Executive and other identified statutory consultees.

People wanting to provide comments to be considered during the determination by the Environment Agency should send them to: psc@environment-agency.gov.uk or write to: Environment Agency, Permitting Support Centre, Land Team, Quadrant 2, 99 Parkway Avenue, Sheffield, S9 4WF.

Please quote permit application number EPR/WP3234DY/A001.

To provide comments online and to view the documents that form part of this consultation, please follow this link

Interested parties can also make an appointment to view a copy of the draft permit and draft decision document at the local Environment Agency office, located at: Bromholme Lane, Brampton, Huntingdon,
Cambridgeshire, PE28 4NE.

The sea wall at Walton on the Naze helps to protect a wetland site of designated international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

The repair work will ensure the wall remains an effective flood defence for years to come and prevent any further deterioration.

Starting later this month, a section of the tidal defence embankment will be refurbished over a 3 month period.
The project will see the renovation of a 1.7 kilometre stretch of the embankment, running north up the coast from Foundry Lane.

The work is being carried out by civil engineering contractors Breheny and will take place on the crest and seaward sides of the embankment.

Work is due to begin in the week commencing 9 October 2017 and normal working hours will be from 7:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Kerry Bentley, Asset Performance Officer for the Environment Agency, said:

This is very important work and will ensure the sea wall can continue to provide an effective level of protection in the area for years to come.

The damaged sections of existing sea wall will be removed and new sections will be added.

The old blocks will be placed at the toe of the sea wall as habitat and to help reduce wave impact.

In order to ensure the safe delivery of these works we will need to redirect short sections of the footpath to the rear of the wall.

A number of businesses across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire are on notice to comply with the law on waste disposal, after a series of unannounced checks by the Environment Agency on Tuesday 3 October.

Officers visited more than 100 sites and firms across the Thames Valley, and will be following-up on 10 illegal waste sites found during the day. The owners may face prosecution. Other premises were given advice and guidance to help them meet their legal requirements.

Firms are required by law to manage waste without a threat to the environment, such as not releasing anything other than waste water into the drainage network. The surprise inspections covered the removal of hazardous items, like chemicals and car batteries. Thames Water assisted the Environment Agency on pollution checks. Companies were also checked for having the correct environmental permit for their business.

Environment Agency staff were also on hand at DIY store Wickes in Slough, to offer free waste-handling advice to hauliers and homeowners, in order to reduce fly-tipping.

Mark Tucker, Installations Team Leader for the Environment Agency in the Thames Valley, said:

The Environment Agency works with business to make sure waste ends up in the right place, and may take more formal action where we believe a serious crime has been committed through illegal waste disposal.

Anyone who produces, carries, keeps, treats or disposes of waste has a duty of care to make sure it is managed correctly. The public can do their bit by only using a licenced waste carrier, or reporting any concerns on waste management to the Environment Agency on 0800 807060.

The 117 sites we inspected this week were under no illusion of their legal obligations on waste management. Mishandling waste, poorly-operated permitted sites and illegal waste activities can pose a threat to human health and the environment by contaminating land, polluting rivers and producing emissions from burning waste.

As well as breaking the law, illegal operations undermine the work done by legitimate firms.

Waste crime is a very serious issue for both local communities and the environment. The Environment Agency uses reports from industry and the public to build intelligence, and target those involved in organised environmental crime, and where their activities pose the greatest risk to the environment.

Handling of illegal waste can be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111. There are lots of signs that could suggest suspicious activity. These include:

• Out-of-hours activity at night, over weekends and during bank holidays
• Smoke caused by constant burning
• An increase in the number of lorries entering a site
• Waste going into a site but not coming out with increasing quantities of waste stockpiled on site
• Water pollution

The Environment Agency and local councils also investigate reports of fly-tipping.

All media enquiries: 0800 141 2743.

Or email us at southeastpressoffice1@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Communities are warned to be prepared for a coastal surge which is forecast today. As a precaution the Environment Agency will close the Thames Barrier at 10am and re-open it at 4pm (5 October 2017) to reduce the risk of possible flooding in London and along the Thames catchment.

During today’s closure the Thames Barrier, along with the associated gates and embankments, will be operating as part of our network of defences, protecting over 550,000 properties. The Thames Barrier is one of the largest moveable flood barriers in the world, protecting 125 square kilometres of central London.

It stretches 520 metres across the River Thames at Charlton and each gate takes 10 to 15 minutes to close (1.5 hours for total closure), and the control room is manned 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Andrew Batchelor, Thames Barrier Manager said:

We are closing the Thames Barrier to protect London from the threat of flooding due to high water levels around the time of high tides from the sea.

Practical advice on preparing for flooding can be found on GOV.UK or by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188. Communities can also follow us on Twitter at @EnvAgencySE and #floodaware for the latest flood updates.

For all media enquiries please contact 0800 141 2743 or email southeastpressoffice1@environment-agency.gov.uk.