Authorisation procedures of provincial and municipal authorities in the Netherlands under the Environmental Management Act, 1999-2002
Between 80 and 85% of provincial and municipal authorities have schedules for authorisation procedures. Provincial authorities completed much more of the planned activities in 2002 than in 2001.
Implementation of schedule for authorisation procedure by provincial authorities
In 2002, eleven of the thirteen provincial authorities had a schedule for the authorisation procedure. This amounts to 85%; the same percentage as in 2001. Eight provincial authorities also completed this schedule. In 2001, only two of them did so. The three provincial authorities which failed to complete the schedule completed 77% of it. This was an improvement on 2001 (68%).
The planned number of permits was roughly the same in 2001 and 2002. The percentage increase therefore means that there was also an absolute increase in the number of permits granted.
Implementation of schedule for authorisation procedure by municipal authorities
In 2002, 81% of the municipal authorities had a schedule for the authorisation procedure. This was a slight increase compared to the previous year (78%). Their own schedules were completed by 36% of the municipal authorities. This was a slight improvement on 2001. The municipal authorities which failed to complete the schedule in 2002 completed 63% of it on average.
Policy relating to authorisation procedures
Section 8.1 of the Environmental Management Act sets out the obligation to acquire authorisation to establish or change an establishment, to change the way in which an establishment operates or to operate an establishment. The authorisation procedures make it possible to impose measures on establishments within the framework of national legislation. In general, the obligation to acquire authorisation applies to establishments that burden the environment. Establishments that impose less of a burden on the environment are not usually required to have a permit and are covered by rules with direct operation drawn up under the Environmental Management Act (mainly orders in council under section 8.40). These companies are required to submit reports in accordance with Section 8.40 of the Environmental Management Act.
The competent authority ensures that each establishment has a valid and current permit or has submitted a report. In order to achieve this aim, it is important for the competent authority to have a list of companies that require permits and the companies covered by an order in council. The list of establishments is updated periodically. The competent authority is expected to establish a schedule for the authorisation procedure stating how often permits are updated and the applicable priorities.
Monitoring method
The government monitoring coordination committee asks all municipal authorities about their environment policy every year. In 2002, approximately 50% of the nearly 500 municipal authorities replied. The indicator is based on the responses of these municipal authorities unless otherwise stated in Annex C of the annual report.
In the context of the 'IPO Environment, Agriculture, Water and Nature Report', the Association of Provincial Authorities (IPO) questions all provincial authorities annually about their environment policy. The figures presented are based on data from all the provincial authorities unless otherwise stated in the text.
