IP16 4UR, NNB Generation Company (SZC) Ltd, EPR/MP3731AC/A001: environmental permit combustion activity proposed decision advertisement

Closed 25 Sep 2022

Opened 4 Jul 2022

Contact

Regulated Industry Team

03708 506 506

PSCpublicresponse@environment-agency.gov.uk

Feedback updated 28 Mar 2023

We asked

NNB Generation Company (Sizewell C) Limited applied for 3 environmental permits that it would need to operate its proposed new nuclear power station at Sizewell, Suffolk.

We consulted on the applications from July to October 2020 and on our proposed decision and draft permits from July to September 2022.

When we consulted, we explained that the consultations were not about the need for nuclear power, UK energy policy or policy relating to the siting of nuclear power stations.

During the consultations we shared information with people, explained our proposed decisions and considered the feedback we received. We emphasised that we would not make any final decisions until we had considered all relevant responses to the consultation.

You said

We received 212 responses from organisations and members of the public:

  • For our 2020 consultation on the permit applications, we received 79 consultation responses
  • For our 2022 consultation on the proposed decision and draft permits, we received 133 consultation responses
  • Information about which organisations responded and how each response has been considered is included in our final decision documents.

All responses to our consultation (if the respondent gave permission) are published on this page.

The Sizewell C project team would like to thank everyone who responded to their consultations.

We did

We have assessed the 3 permit applications and considered the responses we received from both consultations.

Our final decision is that we should grant the permits for the 3 operational activities. The limits and conditions attached to the permits will make sure that people and the environment are protected from the 3 operational activities under normal operation.

  • Our radioactive substances activity permit includes limits on gaseous and liquid discharges of radioactive waste. There are 16 requirements to provide additional information, which will help make sure that NNB Generation Company (Sizewell C) Limited builds and operates the proposed power station according to the commitments it made in its application.
  • Our combustion activity permit limits the operational hours of the generators to 500 hours a year and includes 5 pre-operational requirements and 4 improvement measures. These will help make sure that the proposed power generators are commissioned and operated according to the commitments made in the application.
  • Our water discharge activity permit includes 19 pre-operational conditions which need Environment Agency approval before the proposed power station can be commissioned or begin to operate. This is to make sure that NNB Generation Company (Sizewell C) Limited builds and operates the proposed power station according to the commitments made in its permit application.

The final decision documents, published here, explain the reasons for our decision

Results updated 28 Mar 2023

Files:

Published responses

View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.

Overview

We are seeking your comments on the proposed decision for a combustion activity (CA) environmental permit application received from NNB Generation Company (SZC) Ltd for

Sizewell C Combustion Plant
Sizewell
IP16 4UR

We can take account of:

  • relevant environmental regulatory requirements and technical standards
  • information on local population and sensitive sites
  • comments on whether the right process is being used for the activity, for example whether the technology is the right one
  • the shape and use of the land around the site in terms of its potential impact, whether that impact is acceptable and what pollution control or abatement may be required
  • the potential for the land around the site to have an effect on air quality and what pollution control may be needed
  • information that we have not been made aware of in the application, or corrections to incorrect information in the application

We cannot take account of:

  • anything outside the remit of the Environmental Permitting Regulations, such as the proposed location of the site, which is done by the local authority via land use planning
  • whether a site should have a formal designation under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations or other conservation legislation
  • whether the activity should be allowed or not as a matter of principle. For example we will not consider whether nuclear power generation is an appropriate process or whether alternative methods of generating electricity should be used instead
  • land use issues, or sustainability challenges, even if it is argued that changing the location of the activity would improve its environmental performance
  • the impact of noise and odour from traffic travelling to and from the site
  • the legally defined process we follow to determine a permit
  • comments about the government’s energy policy

Audiences

  • Anyone from any background

Interests

  • Water quality
  • Permits
  • Nuclear
  • Environmental permitting
  • Installation
  • Radioactive substances regulations