BEIS have emailed all operators to remind them that 2020 chemical data will need to be added to all Production Operations (PRA) chemical permits by the end of this year and approved by 1st January 2020.
In order to allow sufficient time for the consultation, review and determination process, the Department recommends that all chemical permit variations to add 2020 chemical data are submitted by 2nd December 2019. This advice assumes that there are changes to chemical types/quantities/dosages/modelling/justifications from the previous year.
If there are no changes to chemical use, discharge and associated modelling from the previous year i.e. 2020 chemical data is an exact copy of the 2019 data, then the variation to add the 2020 data can be submitted in the usual timeframe (approximately three working days before approval is required). The operator should confirm in the Change Summary that there is no change between 2019 and 2020 for chemical use, discharge and associated modelling.
The Department will not expedite the approval process for any variations submitted after the 2nd December 2019 and operators therefore risk enforcement action if they do not have chemicals approved for use and discharge during 2020 by the 1st January 2020.
Expired chemicals
In addition, the Department would also remind operators that it is their responsibility to ensure when copying and pasting the chemical data from the previous year that the OCNS registration of all chemical products has not expired. If the OCNS registration of a chemical product has expired then an operator must remove the product from the 2020 data unless proof of recertification or existing stocks within your ownership can be provided.
Well Intervention (WIA) annual 2020 chemical permits
Operators are recommended to submit annual well intervention chemical permit applications by 2nd December 2019 if approval is required for the 1st January 2020. Submitting a permit application by the 2nd December 2019 will allow sufficient time for consultation, review and determination process of the 2020 annual WIA chemical permit to be completed. Operators are reminded that any comments raised during the review process should be addressed promptly if approval is required for the 1st January 2020.
If an annual WIA permit is not required to be valid from the 1st January then the permit can be applied for anytime during the calendar year. Operators should allow for a 28 day consultation process prior to the date operations are planned to commence.
Source: BEIS