The Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive

Abstract

Traditionally, laws relating to the control of environmental pollution have been addressed only from a sectoral perspective. This led to a dangerous situation, namely, the encouragement of transferring pollution from one environmental medium to another. Consequently, if the optimum environmental solutions are to be found, the authority controlling environment protection, must be able to look comprehensively at all forms of pollution, where different control problems exist. This latter approach was adopted by the European Community in the Integrated Pollution Prevention Control (IPPC) Directive, namely Directive 96/61 EC. This Directive, which came into force in 1996, deals with pollution control from industrial installations carrying out certain activities. One of its main objectives is to prevent or minimize, air, water and soil pollution by emissions from these industrial installations, with a view to achieve a high level of environmental protection. Its most innovative feature is that in controlling pollution from these installations, it abandons the single medium/sectoral approach and deals with the environment as one whole, hence eliminating the 'knock-on' effect mentioned above. In this thesis an overview of the development of Community environmental law and policy, will be followed by a detailed analysis of the provisions of the Directive. Its implementation by a Member State will also be examined. Finally, in the last part an analysis of the local provisions that relate the IPPC Directive, will made.