Small crushers to gain ‘triviality’ status
Mini and micro crushers with drives of less than 15bhp or bucket crushers with capacities of 2m3 are set to gain a Part B “triviality” exemption under EP Regulations under changes being promoted by Defra.
Defra this week released the second set of amendments to its Environmental Permitting General Guidance Manual. In it the government department states that smaller crushers should gain the status given a number of conditions.
For example, if plant if this size includes dust suppression “…it is most likely that it will justify a triviality exclusion”, the document states. However, it cannot be operating in a single location “…for en extended period”.
Other barriers to the exemption will be the sensitivity of the location “…such as immediately next to or within an SSSI”, or if an operator’s competence “…leads to doubts whether the dust suppression will be properly maintained and operated”.
Also in the manual is the confirmation that Defra considers that where mobile plant is regularly hired out to different customers – and the customer operates the plant – it is possible to establish the use of a temporary permit transfer under EP regulation 21.
The permit would then temporarily transfer to the hirer for the duration of the hire. It means that short-term users would not need to obtain their own permit in advance or pay for a full permit and the associated subsistence charge.
