Resources allocated to complaint investigations during 2022 included 6 litter wardens, 8 waste enforcement officers (increase from 2 in 2021, reflecting staff turnover and complaints allocated to more staff), 1 environmental health officer, 1 executive scientist and 1 water pollution officer, with additional resources available from each team as required.

Complaints referred to by the EPA are fully investigated and an update on outcome provided to the EPA

16 farm inspections (GAP)

Septic Tanks Inspections

Section 4 Trade Effluent Discharge Licences

During 2022 there were 20 active trade effluent discharge licences operating in the Fingal County Council area. Throughout the year, monitoring was carried out and water samples were taken at each of the licence locations.

In total 130 water samples/monitoring of Section 4 discharges were carried out in 2022. All water samples taken were delivered to and analysed by the Central Laboratory. The frequency of monitoring was 4, 6 or 12 times depending on the nature of the discharge and the location of the licence. Any exceedances of limit values for parameters set down in the Section 4 licences were relayed to the Licensees as soon as results were received back from the laboratory. During 2022, 5 licences did not have any exceedances recorded for any of the parameters analysed. The remaining 15 licences recorded exceedances of one or more parameter limit value.

Misconnections

Monitoring: A total of 503 no. Investigative monitoring samples were undertaken (430 targeted and non-statutory rivers plus 101
investigative samples)

Bathing Water

Private Water Supplies

Water Quality Complaints – 171 Inspections

Illegal Waste Sites of Interest

Blancomet Investigation

Domestic waste

Noise

What is the Regulatory Authority* required to do?
Produce and submit to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) an Environmental Inspection Plan (the RMCEI Plan) prior to 01st February of each year:

• Carry out inspections of installations regulated by environmental legislation, and
• Produce reports of those inspections.

What does R.M.C.E.I. mean?
R.M.C.E.I. = Recommended Minimum Criteria for Environmental Inspections
In 2001 the EU Parliament made a Recommendation that Member States provide a document of minimum criteria for Environmental Inspections.

Why?
To contribute to a more consistent implementation and enforcement of EU Environmental law.
All environmental inspections carried out by a local authority should be encompassed within the scope of the R.M.C.E.I. Plan to provide for consistency in regulation locally and nationally and for efficiency in staff management.

What is it?
The Environmental Inspection Plan is a document detailing:

• the framework of environmental inspection targets to be undertaken in order to achieve environmental priorities and outcomes during the coming year, and
• identifies the inspections undertaken and the achievement of environmental priorities and outcomes in the previous year, by monitoring the performance against the targets.

What must be in the Plan?

• Define the time period and geographical area to which the plan relates;
• Detail specific sites or types of installations covered by the plan;
• Include a programme for routine environmental inspections;
• Include procedures for dealing with complaints, accidents and incidents;
• Develop procedures to coordinate actions with other Inspecting Authorities; and
• Define a timeframe within which the plan must be reviewed.

Recommendation of the European Parliament and the Council Providing for the Minimum Criteria for Environmental Inspections in Member States (2001/331/EC)

Inspection & Compliance plan under RMCEI 2022