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The EPA aims to recover the costs that we incur when enforcing licences, based on the ‘polluter pays principle’ and our Licensing and Enforcement Charging Policy 2020.  These charges provide funding, in line with the EPA Act, for the EPA’s enforcement activities including 

  • monitoring emissions by taking samples and analysing them in our laboratories, and  
  • inspecting the site to check that they are complying with their licence   

We calculate the annual charge we issue to each licensee in proportion to the risk the facility poses to the environment.  We take into account both what they do and the sensitivity of the local environment.  

Risk-Based Enforcement Charges 

In 2008, the EPA introduced a risk-based approach to enforcing licence industrial and waste facilities, called the ‘Risk Based Methodology for Enforcement’ or RBME. This approach helps us  

  • plan our enforcement actions, and 
  • charge industrial & waste licensed facilities of a similar risk category in a consistent way 

The Revised RBME Risk Model 2022 

We have now revised our risk and charging model, to  

  • make it more efficient so that licensees can predict their charge, 
  • take more account of how a licence holder performed over the previous twelve months. 

Our enforcement charging policy remains up to date and aligned with these revisions. 

Learn more 

See our Licensing and Enforcement Charging Policy 2020 

Download the Revised RBME Risk Model 2022  and its Appendices: 

See our FAQs on Enforcement Charges 

Watch this video which explains the revisions to both the risk and charging models: EPA Annual Enforcement Charges