Environmental liability directive
The Environmental Liability Directive is intended to protect the environment (water, land and nature) by holding those that cause damage to the environment liable both legally and financially. The Directive came into force in April 2004 but only concerns damage that occurred after the deadline for Member States to transpose the Directive in April 2007.
The Directive covers damage to:
- Species and natural habitats that are protected by the 1992 Habitats Directive and the 1979 Birds Directive.
- Waters that are included in the 2000 Water Framework Directive.
- Contamination of land that could result in a significant risk of damage to human health.
Annex III of the Directive lists certain high-risk activities to which strict liability applies. This means that operators will be held liable for damage, even if they are not at fault, although this strict liability is subject to the ‘mitigating considerations’ in Article 8(4).
For activities not listed in Annex III, operators can also be held liable for damage to protected species and natural habitats (but not land and water), if they are found to be at fault or have been negligent. Therefore, if an operator damages biodiversity through undertaking an un-listed activity, but is not at fault or the damage is to soil or water, the operator will not be liable under the Directive.
An operator is considered to be any person who operates or controls an operational activity.
The Directive is implemented in the UK through the following legislation:
- England: Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations 2009.
- Wales: Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (Wales) Regulations 2009.
- Scotland: Environmental Liability (Scotland) Regulations 2009.
- Northern Ireland: Environmental Liability (Prevention and Remediation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- Contaminated land.
- Designated areas.
- Environmental Impairment Liability (EIL).
- Habitats regulations assessment.
- Natura 2000 network.
- Special areas of conservation.
- Special protection areas.
- Water framework directive.
[edit] External references
Featured articles and news
The continued ISG fall out, where to go?
Support for ISG contractors, companies and employees.
New HES national centre for traditional building retrofit
Announced as HES publishes survey results which reveal strong support for retrofit.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Expected to become one of the largest activities in the global construction industry.
The ECA industry focus video channel
Keeping update with the industry session by session.
Over 25 recorded informations sessions freely available.
AT Awards 2024 ceremony East London October 25th.
Revisiting the AT community at the 2023 awards evening.
The Community Housing Fund and built affordable homes
CLTN reviews the impact of the Fund and calls for extension.
The grading system of the Regulator for Social Housing
A background, an explanation and ten recent enforcements.
Construction, repair and maintenance. Book review.
Putting new life into a city with a 1900 year history.
BSRIA Briefing 2024: Sustainable Futures speakers
Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living 22 Nov.
Wall of support for post-Grenfell regulation of electricians
Call for a shake-up of the construction industry highlighted on radio.
Digital sustainability through future AEC tools
Bringing together industry and academia to meet challenges.
Skills gap for net zero highlighted to Minister for Industry
ECA convenes roundtable discussion at Portcullis House.
Evidencing Net Zero with the new UK buildings standard
Pilot version with detailed excel proforma out now!
Scottish Building Safety Levy, in consultation
From direct remediation and the RPDT, to the costs and alternatives.
Waves of warmer homes grants for the rental sector
Boosting energy efficiency standards for all rented homes.
A refocus of the National Planning Policy Framework
Key terms described in brief, as the consultation closes the evening of the 24th.
Fortified farmhouses of the unruly 16th-and 17th-century borders.