Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (S.S.I. 2000/323) (the “PPC Regulations”).

They amend Part B of Section 1.2 (Refining Mineral Oil and Gas, Operating Coke Ovens and Coal Gasification and Liquefaction Activities) of Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the PPC Regulations by adding motor vehicle refuelling activities to the list of activities that require a permit under the PPC Regulations. They also amend regulation 6(2) and add a new Part to Schedule 3 in order to provide for the prescribed date by which the permit is required.

This assists the UK in meeting an obligation arising from the UN Economic Committee for Europe Geneva Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or their Transboundary Fluxes. This Protocol entered into force on 29th September 1997 following its adoption in November 1991. The Protocol can be seen on the UNECE website at http://www.unece.org.

A regulatory impact assessment was prepared in 2005 and a copy has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. Copies can be obtained from the Air, Noise and Nuisance Team, Area 1-G(N), Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ.