TA5 1UD, NNB Generation Company (HPC) Limited, EPR/JP3122GM/V011: environmental permit consultation

Overview

We have received an application under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 from NNB Generation Company (HPC) Limited (NNB GenCo) to change (vary) an existing water discharge activity (WDA) permit (EPR/JP3122GM) for

Hinkley Point C (HPC) construction site at HPC power station

Wick Moor Drove
near Bridgwater
Somerset
TA5 1UD

Under permit variation reference number EPR/JP3122GM/V011 the Company has applied to increase the concentrations of three naturally occurring substances that it is allowed to discharge in the liquid generated from one of its existing activities (tunnel construction dewatering into the Severn Estuary), which is already covered by the above construction phase permit. The change is proposed as background concentrations of the three substances have increased as the tunnel construction has progressed under the Bristol Channel.

The Company has submitted a number of reports to support their application. These reports and the application details can be viewed from the 'Related' documents section below.

Our consultation does not relate to the UK EPR™ design. It is not about the need for nuclear power, UK energy policy, the siting of nuclear power stations, nor the safety and security of the design. You can find further information at: Hinkley Point: nuclear regulation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Here are the aspects and issues we can and cannot take account of.

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.
• Information that we have not been made aware of in the application, or by correcting incorrect information in the application.

We cannot take account of

• issues beyond those in the relevant environmental regulations.
• anything outside the remit of the EPR, e.g. 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 Habitats Directive 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 when determining a permit application, even if changing the location of the activity would improve its environmental performance.
• the impact of noise and odour from traffic on site or travelling to and from the site.
• the legally defined process we follow to determine a permit.
• the granting of a permit/variation if the operator is able to demonstrate that they can carry out the activity without significant risk to the environment or human health.
• comments about the government’s energy policy.
• the granting of a permit if the operator is able to demonstrate that they can carry out the activity without significant risk to the environment or human health.