Treat small volumes of contaminated soil and groundwater: RPS 215
Environment Agency regulatory position on when you can do a small scale remediation scheme or trial to treat contaminated soils and groundwater.
Applies to England
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This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to have an environmental permit to treat contaminated soil and or groundwater, and temporarily store the waste or products used, when you carry out small scale:
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remediation for pollution incidents or land contamination using the techniques listed in this RPS
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site-specific remediation trials to find out if a technique listed in this RPS will be effective
Small scale means the specified volumes given in this RPS.
However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action if you do not comply with this legal requirement if you meet the requirements in the RPS.
The regulatory position does not apply to any other legal requirements.
This RPS does not apply to the reuse of treated materials.
Last updated 3 October 2023 + show all updates
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This RPS clarifies: it can be used for pollution incidents; you must be a competent person to use it; if you are treating soil and groundwater together you must not exceed the 1,000 cubic metres limit; you must not store waste for more than 12 months; what records you must keep; and the requirements for emissions, noise and vibration, and odour. The record keeping requirements have changed from 6 years to 2 years. This RPS will be reviewed by September 2025.
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We have extended the review date of this RPS until September 2022.
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First published.