The EA consult on their drought management plan every three years.  In total there are eight plans; one for each of the six Environment Agency regions of England; one for Wales and one plan covering the Head Office and National teams. Read MPA's repsonse here..

MPA explains its grave concerns that the introduction of a 500m Great Crested Newts(GCN) criterion could render a large number of inert waste operations unviable and jeopardise delivery of the Government’s recycled aggregates objectives.

MPA makes several key points in this consultation, including that the principle of offsetting, to ensure development results in no net loss and preferably a net gain, for biodiversity is good, but needs to apply to those types of development that are not fully contributing to biodiversity enhancements and BAP targets; and, also, that the mineral products industry in the UK is already leading the field in terms of delivering net biodiversity gains through our development activity.

The response focuses on the use of inert waste for restoration of quarries and that it is our opinion that it should be classified as a recovery activity not landfill.  It also suggests that a more balanced approach to inert waste regulation should be taken.

MPA agrees with the principal of introducing a fairer and better environmental enforcement system to regulate businesses and the incidental environmental pollution that may occur.  MPA also understands that the one of the key outcomes of the Hampton Review was to introduce a more balanced enforcement system and MPA understands how this can be accomplished through the use of civil sanctions. However, we are concerned that the civil sanctions are being brought into action far too early and before the new regulatory system is fully set up and operating.

MPA recognises the benefits of providing guidance on the legal definition of waste and its application.  We agree that there should be guidance to provide assistance for businesses and other organisations to take the right decisions about the classification of substances as waste.

MPA responds to the proposed transposition options of the Revised Waste Framework Directive.  MPA raises concerns that the Directive with regards to CD&E Waste and its classification has not been considered during the consultation.

MPA responds to the consultation on the proposed EA guidance on odour management.

MPA considers that the implementation of additional powers for the Environment Agency and Natural England should be delayed to allow industry to catch up with the flood of new regulations.

MPA met with HRMC to discuss the consultation and raised concerns over the removal of the exemption from quarry restoration.  There were also concerns that the increased tax on some wastes would prove difficult for aggregate recycling and other operations.

MPA's response to the consultation on the draft guidance on the Ming Waste Directive.

MPA responded to the consultation on the amendments that would be made to the Conservation Regulations with general support.  However MPA were disappointed not to be thought of as a key stakeholder for the consultation.

MPA continue to support the Environment Agency in preventing waste crime.  The provisions in the consultation document continue to improve and strengthen preventative measures against waste crime.

MPA responds to the consultation, relaying our concerns on time limiting all abstraction licences.  In our response we suggest that long duration licences should be issued to quarry operations and should be subject to the planning conditions.

MPA's key concrens raised in this consultation response are:
- The majority of our operations are non-consumptive, simply dewatering to allow the dry working of mineral below the water table.
- Unlike other industries, our operations have to be situated where there is an accessible mineral resource and this, in turn, is dependent on geology, amongst other factors.  We are unable to relocate to a more suitable location (in terms of CAMS) due to this.
- Industry and regulators require clear, effective Technical Guidance so that there is clarity of requirements between the regulator and the regulated.
- The implementation date of October 2009, with applications required by October 2010, is almost impossible to meet.  It is unlikely that both the Environment Agency and Industry will be able to meet this schedule and it should be extended. If this is unachievable, the opportunity to stagger the applications may be an alternative and, if agreed, this should be done in consultation with industry.  
-The cut off date for compensation (6 October 2024) should be removed.  We consider that in some cases compensation claims may continue after this deadline.