A statement just released by the agency confirmed that the inspectors are actively looking at existing sites as initially the guidance applied only to new sites.
The technical guidance—Guidance to Agency Officers on the Provision of Technically Competent Management (Multiple Sites) at Licensed Waste Facilities—issued by the Agency in June 1999, was designed to provide consistent, transparent assessment and enforcement of technically competent management.
Environment Agency Head of Waste, Steve Lee, said:
“The Agency wants to improve the consistency and efficiency in the waste industry, as this will help to minimise the environmental impact of their activities.
“Competency of waste managers is a critical factor at facilities handling the 400 million tonnes of hazardous, municipal and inert waste produced in the UK every year. The skills and knowledge of these managers may mean the difference between protecting or damaging the environment.”
The guidance sets out the minimum period time technically competent-certified managers are expected to be on site in order to satisfy the requirement that they are in control of the activities authorised by the licence.
A spokesman explained that to establish whether waste managers are complying with this requirement, they will need to make their records available for inspection by Agency inspectors. Failure to comply will leave licence holders at risk of enforcement action being taken which could lead to suspension of the activities authorised by the licence.
Technical competence is demonstrated by the prescribed means, usually a Certificate of Technical Competence (CoTC) awarded by the Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory Board (WAMITAB) after securing NVQs at levels three or four.
In 1999 the Agency, together with Industry and WAMITAB, developed guidance entitled Guidance to Agency Officers on the Provision of Technically Competent Management (Multiple Sites) at Licensed Waste Facilities. This document provides guidance on the length of time a TCM must attend a site. Site attendance is based on the type and size of facility and is expressed as a percentage of the site's weekly operational hours. The guidance provides a minimum standard consistent with the rate at which managers in the industry were able to gain their CoTCs.
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