EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Environmental Protection Agency The EPA is responsible for protecting and improving the environment as a valuable asset for the people of Ireland. We are committed to protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation and pollution. The work of the EPA can be divided into three main areas: • Regulation: Implementing regulation and environmental compliance systems to deliver good environmental outcomes and target those who don’t comply. • Knowledge: Providing high-quality, targeted and timely environmental data, information and assessment to inform decision making. • Advocacy: Working with others to advocate for a clean, productive and well-protected environment and for sustainable environmental practices. Our responsibilities include: LICENSING • Large-scale industrial waste and petrol storage activities; • Urban wastewater discharges; • The contained use and controlled release of genetically modified organisms; • Sources of ionising radiation; • Greenhouse gas emissions from industry and aviation through the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT • Audit and inspection of EPA-licensed facilities; • Drive the implementation of best practice in regulated activities and facilities; • Oversee local authority responsibilities for environmental protection; • Regulate the quality of public drinking water and enforce urban wastewater discharge authorisations; • Assess and report on public and private drinking water quality; • Coordinate a network of public service organisations to support action against environmental crime; • Prosecute those who flout environmental law and damage the environment. WASTE MANAGEMENT AND CHEMICALS IN THE ENVIRONMENT • Implement and enforce waste regulations including national enforcement issues; • Prepare and publish national waste statistics and the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan; • Develop and implement the National Waste Prevention Programme; • Implement and report on legislation on the control of chemicals in the environment. WATER MANAGEMENT • Engage with national and regional governance and operational structures to implement the Water Framework Directive; • Monitor, assess and report on the quality of rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal waters, bathing waters and groundwaters, and measurement of water levels and river flows. CLIMATE SCIENCE AND CLIMATE CHANGE • Publish Ireland’s greenhouse gas emission inventories and projections; • Provide the Secretariat to the Climate Change Advisory Council and support to the National Dialogue on Climate Action; • Support National, EU and UN climate science and policy development activities. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING & ASSESSMENT • Design and implement national environmental monitoring systems: technology, data management, analysis and forecasting; • Produce the State of Ireland’s Environment and Indicator Reports; • Monitor air quality and implement the EU Clean Air for Europe Directive, the Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution and the National Emissions Ceiling Directive; • Oversee the implementation of the Environmental Noise Directive; • Assess the impact of proposed plans and programmes on the Irish environment. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT • Coordinate and fund national environmental research activity to identify pressures, inform policy and provide solutions; • Collaborate with national and EU environmental research activity. RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION • Monitoring radiation levels and assess public exposure to ionising radiation and electromagnetic fields; • Assist in developing national plans for emergencies arising from nuclear accidents; • Monitor developments abroad relating to nuclear installations and radiological safety; • Provide, or oversee the provision of, specialist radiation protection services. GUIDANCE, AWARENESS RAISING, AND ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION • Provide independent evidence-based reporting, advice and guidance to government, industry and the public on environmental and radiological protection topics; • Promote the link between health and wellbeing, the economy and a clean environment; • Promote environmental awareness including supporting behaviours for resource efficiency and climate transition; • Promote radon testing in homes and workplaces and encourage remediation where necessary. PARTNERSHIP AND NETWORKING • Work with international and national agencies, regional and local authorities, non-governmental organisations, representative bodies and government departments to deliver environmental and radiological protection, research coordination and science-based decision making. MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE OF THE EPA The EPA ismanaged by a full-time Board, consisting of aDirector General andfiveDirectors. Thework is carried out across fiveOffices: • Office of Environmental Sustainability • Office of Environmental Enforcement • Office of Evidence and Assessment • Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring • Office of Communications and Corporate Services The EPA is assisted by advisory committees who meet regularly to discuss issues of concern and provide advice to the Board.