Hinkley Point C: water discharge activity permit variation
Applies to England and Wales
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
NNB Generation Company (HPC) Limited applied to change its existing water discharge activity environmental permit for Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.
The Environment Agency consulted on the application from 24 January to 2 March 2023 and on the proposed decision and draft permit from 25 April to 25 May 2023.
They have assessed the permit application and considered the responses they received from both consultations. They concluded that they should issue the permit variation and published the final decision in July 2023.
The Environment Agency considers that the limits and conditions in the permits are suitable to protect people and the environment.
The final decision document, published here, explains the reasons for their decision.
Detail of feedback received
The Environment Agency received 243 responses from organisations and members of the public:
- for the consultation on the permit application, they received 50 consultation responses
- for the consultation on the proposed decision and draft permit, they received 193 consultation responses
Information about which organisations responded and how each response has been considered is included in the final decision document.
All responses to the consultation (if the respondent gave permission) are published on the Environment Agency’s consultation website.
The Hinkley Point C project team would like to thank everyone who responded to their consultations.
Original consultation
Consultation description
NNB Generation Company (Hinkley Point C) Limited applied to the Environment Agency to change its water discharge activity permit in December 2022. The Environment Agency consulted on the application from January to March 2023.
The application asked the Environment Agency to make these changes to the permit:
- remove all references to the acoustic fish deterrent (AFD)
- remove all references to the effects of abstracting cooling water – the Environment Agency does not regulate abstraction from the open sea
- add the discharge of seawater and biomass from the fish recovery and return system
The Environment Agency’s proposed decision is to grant the variation the operator has requested. They are proposing to add new conditions and limits in the permit to protect people and the environment.
The Environment Agency wants your views on their proposed decision and draft permit to help them come to a final decision in summer 2023.
They have published the following documents for you to consider:
- draft permit for a water discharge activity
- draft decision document for variation of the water discharge activity permit
- Habitats Regulations assessment report
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) assessment report
- Water Framework Directive (WFD) compliance assessment report
The consultations are open to everyone and, in particular, the Environment Agency invites the following groups to take part:
- members of the public and communities (including local interest and action groups), particularly those in west Somerset near to the Hinkley site
- elected representatives, including MPs
- local councils near the site
- the nuclear industry
- academics, scientists and consultants with an interest in nuclear power, energy or the environment
- non-governmental organisations (NGOs), campaign groups and environmental groups
- statutory consultees
- other government agencies
- other regulators
- any other organisation or public bodies
Ways to respond
Respond online through Citizen Space.
Email: psc-waterquality@environment-agency.gov.uk
Write to:
Hinkley Point C Consultation
Environment Agency
Permit Support Centre
Quadrant 2
99 Parkway Avenue
Parkway Business Park
Sheffield
S9 4WF
Documents
Updates to this page
Last updated 31 July 2023 + show all updates
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Added information about the outcome of the consultation.
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First published.