WFD Stakeholder Meeting 2 February 2007 WFD Environmental Standards Rob Hitchen WFD Team, Defra

Environmental Standards/Conditions Environmental Standards and conditions are the physico-chemical and hydromorphological parameters that are in support of the achievement of good status (good ecological status for surface waters and groundwater status) Being developed by each MS but will be informed with the ‘intercalibration’ of biological classification between MS Good chemical status is defined at EU level via daughter directive on priority substances

Env standards/conditions [cont] Consistent UK approach for WFD - UK Environment Agencies (UKTAG) are developing harmonised classification tools Distinction between classification and objective setting - according to the Directive and CIS Guidance. Classification should be a technical and scientific exercise. Economic considerations are part of the objective setting stage (part of the River Basin Planning process)

Defra had agreed with other UK Administrations for: UKTAG to undertake a stakeholder review on the science underpinning the first tranche of environmental standards [COMPLETE – FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS MADE TO UK ADMINISTRATIONS AUGUST 2006] Each administration to consult on the final recommendations made by UKTAG together with a partial RIA on the costs and benefits associated with the proposed standards/conditions [SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE HAVE COMPLETED 2 MONTH CONSULTATION; REST OF UK HAVEN’T]

Defra have revised thinking on water-related consultations. As a result we propose: To combine the Defra consultations on the 2 tranches of WFD environmental standards into a single consultation. This would take place in summer 2007 and follow the UKTAG stakeholder review on the 2 nd tranche standards (spring 2007) To make the partial RIA prepared for the 1 st tranche of WFD standards public on the Defra website so it can feed into the Defra/WAG preliminary CEA exercise. It is not being consulted on but if stakeholders have views then they are welcome to make them Refine the partial RIA ready for the consultation this summer A formal classification instrument is consulted on after intercalibration completed (start 2008) which will set out the final classification for the first planning cycle

Advantages of combining into one single consultation on WFD standards this Summer Reduces the number of water related consultations Allows a more accurate estimate of costs/benefits and scenarios to be obtained from pCEA Allows the re-running of analysis to take account of latest Defra study on the apportionment of P

UKTAG final recommendations (1 st tranche) to the UK Administrations following stakeholder review Most significant changes for England are: Tightening of ammonia standard for most river types New WFD standard for P in rivers (beyond that used for UWWTD, n2k, SSSIs) New morphological conditions (to screen for deterioration) in rivers Standards for oxygen, salinity acidification in lakes

Recommended delay until 2 nd tranche for: P in lakes and N in TraC due to ongoing debate at EU level on intercalibration Specific pollutants

The Partial RIA on the first tranche of environmental standards It explores: -potential compliance costs and benefits associated with the proposed UKTAG standards/conditions. -monitoring and administration costs Comprises of: -Summary and Annex for each standard or condition Main purpose is to inform stakeholders and Ministers of potential costs and benefits of adopting the proposed standards. However, defining ‘good status’ is a scientific process

RIA explores options and scenarios Option 1 – based on ‘do nothing’ but assumes where an appropriate standard already exists (even if non regulatory) this is used for classify for WFD purposes Option 2 – based on final UKTAG proposals BUT! Under the WFD the introduction of the standards does not alone drive compliance costs (except for no deterioration obligation). Actual compliance costs and benefits are determined by the final objectives set for WBs and summarised in the RBMPs in 2009.

RIA - 3 broad scenarios to demonstrate the the impact of objective setting on costs/benefits For each of the 2 options: Scenario 1: no measures to achieve good status are applied in any water body where confident standards are failed (100% WB are set alternative objectives) Scenario 2: aim to achieve good status in 50% water bodies where confident standards are failed (50% WB are set alternative objectives) Scenario 3: aim to achieve good status in 100% water bodies where confident standards are failed (no alternative objectives are set)

Please note that….. It’s a Partial RIA considering the impacts of using the UKTAG standards/conditions in support of good status and NOT entire WFD implementation Represents a preliminary view of potential costs and benefits associated with the standards Scenarios indicate a range of costs/benefits. Its simplistic & assumes linear relationship Not 100% accurate; many assumptions – these will be clearly stated in each of the annex. Does not fully account for baseline (CAP reform, PR09, new development, climate change)

Please note that… [cont] It will evolve and incorporate the 2 nd tranche standards for the Defra consultation this summer and then be finalised to accompany the classification instrument consultation in early 2008 Many costs similar to estimates in WFD transposition RIA (2003) Final costs/benefits not known until RIAs associated with consultation on each RBMP Will be available shortly at

Next Steps Partial RIA, whilst work in progress, provides useful information for preliminary CEA which will in turn provide useful information (on scenarios, baselines etc) for the refinement of the RIA Take account of new Defra P apportionment study where apportionment to agriculture has been shown to be lower - 26% compared to 43% from Morse (1993) Examine also the apportionment for ammonia Close links between standards RIA (UK wide) and the revision of the overall transposition RIA (E&W). Both working to similar timescales In meantime, EA and pCEA to use UKTAG recommendations on the 1 st tranche of standards for river basin planning purposes