Overview

We are the Environment Agency. We protect and improve the environment.

We help people and wildlife adapt to climate change and reduce its impacts, including flooding, drought, sea level rise and coastal erosion.

We improve the quality of our water, land, and air by tackling pollution. We work with businesses to help them comply with environmental regulations. A healthy and diverse environment enhances people's lives and contributes to economic growth.

We can’t do this alone. We work as part of the Defra group (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs), with the rest of government, local councils, businesses, civil society groups and local communities to create a better place for people and wildlife.

Why your views matter

Foreword

The Environment Agency uses Environment Assessment Levels (EALs), in conjunction with the H1 risk assessment process, to judge the acceptability of proposed emissions to air from industrial processes, and their relative contribution to the environment. EALs represent a pollutant concentration in ambient air at which no appreciable risks or minimal risks to human health are expected.

What are we consulting on

Post combustion Carbon Capture technologies using amine-based solvent systems for the absorption of carbon dioxide are an emerging approach to reducing carbon emissions from fossil fuel energy production. Carbon Capture installations are permitted by the Environment Agency under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2016, as amended. 

The Carbon Capture process may release small quantities of spent amine-based solvents and their transformation products to air under normal operating conditions. The Environment Agency relies on EALs to identify and mitigate potential operational risks of these chemicals through the permitting process. In applying for a permit, operators are required to assess that emissions from their proposed facilities do not result in exceedances of the relevant EALs. 

To support industry in permit application, we have developed EALs for a number of amines and amine derivative products associated with the Carbon Capture process. The derivation applies our updated approach to developing EALs, based on available toxicological data and information for individual compounds. The approach was agreed with the UK Health and Security Agency, UKHSA (formerly Public Health England). In this consultation, we present the derived EALs, as well as a proposed approach to establishing EALs in situation where insufficient toxicological data is available. We welcome feedback and comments from our stakeholders on our proposal. We will use the feedback and comments received to shape our approach.

Scope of comments

We will consider comments that are related to the development of EALs for the amine-based Carbon Capture process as outlined in the questions. For other concerns outside of this, please email the National Customer Contact Centre at enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk and they will forward these to the appropriate team.