EIA & Permitting - fuel production facility

  • Fuel production facility (stock image)

Environmental Planning

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

EIA & Permitting Consultant

Delta-Simons was commissioned to provide environmental impact assessment (EIA) and environmental permitting support, including a large range of related specialist environmental services, for the development of a fuel production facility. The facility would produce petroleum, diesel and LPG from waste plastics. The site was located on a former industrial brownfield site, next to an internationally designated wildlife site.

Purpose

There was potential for air quality impacts on human and sensitive ecological receptors, as a result of additional road traffic exhaust emissions and potential process emissions. Due to the chemicals used in the production facility, the development required a bespoke non-standard environmental permit. Delta-Simons provided the documentation required for the permit application and managed the whole process on behalf of the client.

There was also an identified client risk in terms of future liability for ground contamination, which Delta-Simons helped reduce.

Outline / Scope of Works

Delta-Simons provided environmental services covering the following specialties:

- Air Quality - Acoustics
- Ecology - Environmental Permitting
- Environmental Planning - Flood Risk Assessment
- Ground Conditions - Heritage
- Landscape Services - Sustainable Drainage Systems


Delta-Simons identified that the project would be classed as a ‘Schedule 1’ development under the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations and therefore would require an Environmental Statement. Delta-Simons produced this along with supporting environmental assessments and planning documents for an EIA submission.

Along with our employee’s local and technical knowledge, we liaised with the local authority, Natural England, the Environment Agency and other stakeholders to produce both the Environmental Statement and Environmental Permit application.

We undertook a range of baseline environmental surveys and assessments to assist with determining relevant chapters and advised on disciplines to be scoped out. We also utilised our strong internal ground team to undertake a full site investigation to obtain relevant baseline data for the permit

The team assisted in a variety of technical assessments, including air qualityecology, ground investigations, acoustics, landscape and visual, heritage and transport.

Outcome / Client Benefits

We provided one point of contact for all the disciplines covered, which ensured efficient communication between the environmental discipline teams and the client.

Throughout our assistance on this project, our local knowledge, research, field surveys and engagement with local third parties provided us with an understanding of the local environment and potential impacts. This allowed us to provide commercially and environmentally aware design advice that reflected the local needs. We also aided the reduction of high infrastructure costs involved through finding inventive solutions to the internal road network and drainage design.

Our advice on the proposal led to changes including amendments to access, layout and building size revisions that reduced design inefficiencies and improved safety.

Our Environmental Planning team designed an emission stack combination to reduce visual and air quality impacts which also reduced the cost to the client through reduction of future material costs and minimising the number of continuous monitoring locations required.

See all Environmental Planning services.