Pollution

Environmental Protection Directorate within the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) seeks to safeguard the quality of the environment through effective regulation of activities that have the potential to impact on air, water and land.

This involves engagement with businesses and the public to provide information and advice; monitoring, recording, reporting and setting standards for compliance; issuing consents, licences, permits and authorisations and enforcing legislation.

Enforcement is based on fair but firm regulation. View our Enforcement and Prosecution Policy(.PDF 92.6Kb).

Pollution Prevention and Control

Some industrial sectors require an operating permit from either the NIEA or a district council under the Pollution Prevention and Control regime.

Air quality and climate change

Air quality and climate change are managed through the Department of the Environment’s Environmental Policy Division (EPD).

• PEPG Climate Change
• PEPG Air and Environmental Quality.

Air Pollution

There is a public air quality website funded by the Northern Ireland Department of Environment.

Noise Pollution

Noise from industrial premises regulated under Part A of the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations is controlled by our Industrial Pollution and Radiochemical Inspectorate (IPRI).

All other noise complaints and the enforcement of noise control legislation is a matter for environmental health departments of district councils.