Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Ireland services
Licensing And Permitting
The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for regulating activities that have significant polluting potential. Licensed activities are required to conform to best practice and all licences, authorisations and permits are routinely monitored to ensure ongoing compliance with requirements. In addition, licences are reviewed or amended to achieve compliance with Directives or other provisions as required. This includes the examination of IPPC and Waste licences for compliance with the Environmental Objectives (Surface Water) Regulations 2009 and Environmental Objectives (Groundwater) Regulations 2010.Enforcement
The Office of Environmental Enforcement within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is dedicated to the implementation and enforcement of environmental legislation in Ireland. Our aim is to improve compliance with environmental legislation in Ireland and ensure that those who flout the law and cause environmental pollution are held to account. Our Enforcement Policy sets out the general principles that the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE) follows in relation to enforcement and prosecution.
Waste Management And Prevention
EPA licenses major waste facilities, and these licenses are enforced by our Office of Environmental Enforcement. Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) licensed activities are also obliged to prevent or minimise waste generation. The management of municipal and other waste is provided for in Regional Waste Management Plans prepared by local authorities. Hazardous waste is provided for in the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan prepared by the EPA.
Climate Change
Human-induced climate change is a global issue and is the primary environmental challenge of this century. Increased levels of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide act to enhance the natural greenhouse effect and accelerate irreversible changes in the climate.What is distinctive about the current period of global warming, compared to previous cycles of climate change, is the extent and rate of change, which exceeds natural variation. The impacts of climate change present very serious global risks and threaten the basic components of life, including health, access to water, food production and the use of land. As the earth gets warmer the damage from climate change will accelerate.Environmental Monitoring
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a duty to monitor the environment. It is directed to have such monitoring carried out, under the EPA Act, 1992. It is specifically directed under the Water Framework Directive, Directive 2000/60/EC to prepare a monitoring programme for all waters. The monitoring programmes must specify: