Public consultation on change to HPC’s water discharge activity permit

Public consultation on change to HPC’s water discharge activity permit

The Environment Agency has launched a four-week consultation on a proposed change to discharge sea water and fish at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station near Bridgwater.

The proposal is to vary the operational Water Discharge Activity (WDA) permit, to remove conditions that relate to an Acoustic Fish Deterrent (AFD) and add a waste stream for discharge from the Fish Recovery and Return system (FRR). A similar application in 2019 resulted in an appeal to the Secretary of State, which was dismissed last year.

The original WDA permit application included three mitigation measures in the design of the cooling water system: an Acoustic Fish Deterrent, Low Velocity Side Intakes and a Fish Recovery and Return system. The existing permit, issued in 2013, allows the cooling water system to operate as described in the application. The permit requires the applicant to submit reports to the Environment Agency describing how their proposed AFD will operate and demonstrate that it will be optimised to minimise impacts on fish. The permit did not, however, include the discharge from the FRR as a WDA. Owners of the power station, NNB Generation Company (HPC) Ltd, no longer wish to put the AFD in place as part of the variation application, as they believe it is not required to protect the water quality of the Bristol Channel from discharges from the FRR system.

This permit variation proposes a re-examination of these conditions in light of the approach recently taken at Sizewell C Power Station, the draft of which was consulted on through the summer of 2022. It highlights that the duplication of a similar requirement in the Development Consent Order (DCO) regarding AFD optimisation has led to a potential overlap of regulation across planning and permitting regimes. It also examines the potential water quality impacts on the receiving environment from the discharge from the FRR without the operation of an AFD.

When considering the revised application, we will assess the impact of removing the AFD on aspects relating to the potential for water pollution and/or effects on habitat and species directly affected by the discharge from the fish recovery and return outfall. If we grant it, we must decide what conditions to include in the permit and may consult the public further if we reach this stage.

We are targeting publishing our final decision later this year.

As cooling water will be abstracted from marine waters, and therefore below the low tide mark, the company will also need to change permissions it has from the Planning Inspectorate and the Marine Management Organisation. Separate consultations will be held by these organisations.

If you have any comments send these by 21 February 2023. You can do this:

Online: Citizen Space at https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/psc/ta5-1ud-nnb-generation-company-hpc-limited-v005; or
Email: psc-waterquality@environment-agency.gov.uk; or
Write to P&SC – WQ Team, Quadrant 2, 99 Parkway Avenue, Sheffield, S9 4WF
For more advice on how to comment, please call 03708 506 506

Please quote the application number EPR/HP3228XT/V005 in any correspondence.

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Grant Application Kings Coronation Form

The Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III will take place on Saturday 6th May 2023, with an additional bank holiday on Monday 8th May 2023.

We are keen to hear from groups/organisations in Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge that are looking to celebrate the Coronation. The Town Council has £1500 available to allocate to events being organised to celebrate the Kings Coronation. The maximum grant to be allocated per event will be £500.

You must meet the following criteria for your application to be considered:

– The event will be open to all members of the public

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– The event will take place within the Coronation weekend

– The event will take place within Burnham on Sea or Highbridge

 

Applications will close on Monday 6th March at midday. 

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Applications will be considered at the Finance and Resources Committee Meeting on Monday 13th March 2023. You will be notified after this date whether your application has been successful.
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