The Environment Agency – What to expect in an EA inspection
The Environment Agency has recently recruited 84 agricultural Regulatory Inspection Officers to inspect farms and support farmers to protect the environment.
The country has been divided into river catchments, with farms designated into areas depending on which river catchment their land sits in. Inspections are then being scheduled on farms in the most polluted river catchments first.
Inspections will focus on the following compliance documents:
- Nutrient Management Plan*
- Soil Samples*
- Drainage Plans
- NVZ Records
The on-farm inspection will look at:
- Fuel storage facilities
- Silage Clamps*
- Slurry Storage*
- Farmyard and muck stores*
- Fields (runoff and slopes)
- Yard drainage*
- Chemical storage
- Pesticide Handling Areas*
*did you know there are grants available for each of the items indicated
The EA inspectors aim to advise farmers on how to reduce pollution.
Where issues are identified inspectors will work with farmers to come up with solutions and an action plan to complete work.
There are lots of grants available to assist with the cost of capital infrastructure work.
If you have applied for a grant but works are yet to be completed this will be accounted for.
Top Tip: If you are planning on building a new slurry store or silage clamp, plans now have to be approved by the Environment Agency as part of the planning process. As well as approving applications, the EA will also feed into your design process to ensure what you build is compliant and future-proof.
At present there are grants available to get your farm to comply with the legislation, it is a good idea to get compliant now while there is funding available, instead of being left to get compliant once the grants have run out, and the EA take a harder line.
If you need any assistance either in the run up to an inspection or getting your farm infrastructure in order, do get in touch here.
Related posts
A recent article in the Telegraph sums up the current situation very well.
Late on Friday night Ofgem published the revised Feed in Tariff rates that will apply to all non-solar technology from April 2014. As expected the full 20% degression rate
Today, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso will launch a White Paper on the EU’s 2030 Climate and Energy Package. This will contain recommendations for Europe’s climate and energy targets
The On-Farm Anaerobic Digestion Fund has been developed to help farmers in England get financial support to build small-scale AD plants on their farms. The fund is aimed at
Renewable UK has published (16th December 2013) an extensive study into the acoustic phenomenon known as 'Amplitude Modulation' or 'AM'. This effect has long been cited by wind energy
The UK Government has published Contract for Difference strike prices for renewable technologies under Electricity Market Reform and a summary of key contract terms. Strike prices In summary, the