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This report was approved to go to the Director
by Fran~J~n,~fg#mme
Signed
OFFI~
LI c E Ns I iuG ,- RESO-UR C-ES x
RESEARCH
To:
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Dara Lynott, Director
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Manager
Date: 05.01.2015
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From:
Deirdre French
Environmental Licensing Programme
RE:
Request to withdraw a Waste Water Discharge Licence Application & Refund
Request from Irish Water for the Coolgreany Agglomeration, Reg. No. D0174-01
Wexford County Council submitted an application for a Waste Water Discharge Licence
(WWDL) for Coolgreany agglomeration (D0174-01) on 22/09/2008. The application was
made in the 2001 - 10,000 population equivalent (p.e.) category. The application was
transferred to Irish Water on 01/01/2014 under the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013.
On 29/07/2014, the Agency received a request from Irish Water to withdraw the Coolgreany
WWDL application. I n their letter of request, Irish Water explained that at the1 time the
licence application was lodged, the agglomeration size was understood to be 546 p.e. Irish
Water has determined that the current population equivalent of the Coolgreany
agglomeration is 410 p.e. (based on the 2011 Central Statics Office (CSO) population data
and a 10% non-domestic factor) with a projected increase of 7 p.e. based on an estimated
annual growth rate of 0.276% per year (ESRI County Growth Rate estimates) for 6 years,
bringing the projected agglomeration size to 417 p.e. by the year 2020.
Irish Water identify that this figure is below the 500 p.e. waste water discharge licensing
threshold and a Certificate of Authorisation (CoA) is the appropriate form of authorisation for
the waste water discharges from the Coolgreany agglomeration. Irish Water expresses their
intention to apply for a CoA. Irish Water notes that an application fee of €25,000 was paid
for the WWDL application and the fee associated with a CoA application is €3,000 and
therefore request a refund of the authorisation fee differential (i.e. €22,000).
The Agency has commenced the assessment of the WWDL application and issued a
Regulation 18(3)(b)' notice requesting further information in support of the WWDL on
18/01/2010 and responses were received on 21/01/2010 and 10/02/2010. The details
included in the WWDL application and further information required/provided in support of
the application may form the basis of the CoA application to be submitted for the Coolgreany
agglomeration.
' WastewaterDischarge (Authorisation) Regulations, 2007, as amended
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Recommendation
Iam satisfied that the withhrawal of'the licence application is appropriate on the basis that
the Coolgreany agglomeration has'a current and projected population equivalent below the
500 p.e. WWDL threshold. Itherefore recommend that the Agency agree to the withdrawal
of the licence application, Reg. No. D0174-01.
Having regard to the fact that no recommendation or decision on the WWDL application has
been made by the Agency and the applicant's stated intention to apply for a CoA a partial
refund of the WWDL application fee is considered appropriate. Irecommend that €3,000
should be retained by the Agency to be offset against the application fee associated with the
CoA application to be submitted by Irish Water. While Irish Water has requested a refund of
the differential between the WWDL application fee paid and the CoA application fee due in
respect of this agglomeration, the Agency has expended significant resources (administration
and technical assessment) processing the Coolgreany WWDL application to date and
therefore I recommend that 50% of the differential be refunded to Irish Water (i.e.
€11,000).
Irecommend that Irish Water be provided with an electronic copy of the WWDL application
(previously provided by the Water Services Authority) to assist their preparation of the CoA
. application.
One submission has been received to date in relation to the WWDL application. Statutory
Bodies and anyone who has made a submission on the WWDL application will be notified
that the application has been withdrawn and an application for a CoA is expected from Irish
Water, submissions can be made in respect of the CoA application when received by the
Agency.
Signed
Deirdre French
Inspector
Environmental Licensing Programme
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