« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
4. DEVELOPING ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS IN THE UK: KEY PRINCIPLES
In January 2006, the UK administrations set out the key principles underpinning the approach to the introduction of environmental standards and conditions in the UK2.
4.1 Separation of science and policy
The main work of developing environmental standards has been carried out by the UK Technical Advisory Group for the WFD ( UKTAG). This is a partnership of technical experts from the UK environmental protection and conservation agencies, as well as some partners from the Republic of Ireland. Given its technical expertise, UKTAG is responsible for developing recommendations for standards and presenting these to the UK administrations for consideration.
In turn the UK administrations consider these recommendations, and produce proposals for introducing any standards and conditions. Cost considerations are taken into account at this stage. However, it is the objective-setting process which determines where, when and if action should be taken to achieve environmental standards. This process will take into account the costs and benefits of achieving the standards and set objectives accordingly. Producing accurate and reliable estimates of the costs associated with the standards ahead of the objective-setting process is not possible .
This clear separation of science and policy has been adopted to emphasise that the flexibility to set less stringent objectives on grounds of disproportionate costs or technical infeasibility is an integral part of implementing the WFD and the WEWS Act.
4.2 Phased introduction of environmental standards and conditions
Environmental standards will be introduced in a series of phases:
- First phase: The standards developed in the first phase have now been introduced in Scotland by Directions to SEPA.
- Second phase: Proposals for the second set of standards will be published in 2007. UKTAG plan to publish their methodology for an initial technical review in late spring and then make recommendations to the UK governments. The Executive plans to publish its proposals for consultation later in 2007. This phase is likely to include more of the water quality and water resources standards that were not included in the first phase, as well as proposals for groundwater and for some of the chemicals that are significant issues in UK surface waters - classed as 'specific pollutants' .
- Later phases: The first two phases of standards will be used for basin planning in the first cycle. Further standards will be developed as scientific data becomes available from monitoring and from work at a European level. These later standards are unlikely to be available in time for effective introduction in the first cycle of RBMP, but many may be available for the second cycle. All proposals for standards will be published for consultation before they are introduced.
- Classes below 'good': The initial priority in developing standards was to define the environmental standards needed to protect the water environment from significant damage and thus help identify what we would need to do to restore water bodies to good ecological status. However, we also need to protect water bodies that are worse than good status from further deterioration. UKTAG is now developing environmental standards that correspond to the boundary between moderate and major damage to aquatic plants and animals and between major and severe damage. This will also help us assess what we would need to do to improve a water body from one class to another.
This phased approach reflects our desire to ensure that all available scientific evidence is considered in developing the standards. For some standards more data is needed either from monitoring or new research before a robust standard can be proposed.
Equally, it is important that standards are proposed and introduced as early as possible where we have sufficient information and understanding. Timely introduction will give businesses sufficient time and certainty to plan for the future.
Introducing the standards in phases does not mean that there will be any increased risk to the water environment. The standards augment the protection provided by the standards and controls already in place under existing legislation. Until new standards are developed and introduced, SEPA will continue to use existing standards, such as those already used in the Scottish Rivers Classification Scheme or under the Dangerous Substances Directive.
4.3 Compatible approach across Europe
As outlined in Section 3.2, the environmental standards have been set at levels to protect aquatic plants and animals from significant impacts. They will therefore help us assess the risk to the achievement of good ecological status.
The standards have been developed in parallel with an EU intercalibration exercise so that we could ensure that the protection they provide is consistent with other Member States' understanding of good ecological status.
The intercalibration exercise has been coordinated by the European Commission with the aim of ensuring that the biological standards identified by Member States for good ecological status are comparable across Europe. The first phase of the exercise is due to report shortly. Experts from the UK have been, and will continue to be, involved in the exercise.
« Previous | Contents | Next »