The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has today (Friday, 6 June) written to the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs with advice on his department’s proposals to adopt new Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) Regulations.
The OEP letter to Minister Muir welcomes the clear commitment to tackle the chronic problem of nutrient pollution in Northern Ireland, that is visible at the ongoing ecological crisis at Lough Neagh and other locations.
Dame Glenys Stacey, Chair of the OEP, said: “Getting the NAP Regulations right is essential.
“The consequences of failing to address nutrient pollution in the round are grave. They extend not just to the state of Northern Ireland’s loughs and rivers, but also to drinking water supplies and to prospects for future agricultural, residential and commercial developments. These challenges will only become more acute in the face of climate change.
“The issue of reducing nutrient pollution is urgent and must be dealt with accordingly.”
The chair added: “It is important to address nutrient pollution not only from the agri-food industry but also from wastewater. Together, they are a leading cause of the decline in biodiversity in Northern Ireland, as identified in our recent ‘Drivers and Pressures’ report.
“Both are major problems and both require action. There is an urgent need for government to take action in parallel on wastewater pollution.”
She added: “We welcome aspects of the proposals in the NAP consultation and have made eight recommendations that we hope Minister Muir and the Executive find useful in addressing nutrient pollution at pace.”
The OEP advice includes the recommendations for targets at farm and national level for phosphorus and nitrogen. It also recommends for DAERA to set out whether the amended NAP measures are expected to achieve the Environmental Objectives set under the Water Framework Directive Regulations.
Dame Glenys added: “Our view is that compliance with the Habitats Regulations and Water Framework Directive Regulations, specifically in relation to nutrient pollution of aquatic protected sites, can only realistically be achieved if sufficient measures are included in the NAP Regulations.”
The advice can be read in full by pressing the blue button on this page.
