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H1 Risk Assessment Tool – Updated Version The H1 Risk Assessment tool can be used by operators in the permit application process, to assess the significance of emissions to various media. It is used in applications under the Environmental Permitting Regulations in England and Wales, and the Pollution Prevention & Control Regulations in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The tool was originally developed by the Environment Agency using the Microsoft Access data base system. It is now being relaunched in a new, more accessible version using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet system. This version has been developed and agreed by the four UK Environment Agencies, namely the Environment Agency (EA), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). This joint version will provide a consistent risk assessment approach across the UK. The Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling Liaison Committee (ADMLC) is kindly hosting the H1 risk assessment tool and accompanying guidance on their website, for ease of public access across the UK: H1 Tool | ADMLC The guidance document for the H1 Tool can be downloaded here. The H1 tool (H1 Assessment Tool v8) can be downloaded from Google Drive by clicking on the link below or copying it into a web browser: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10zOc_4cM09J4IRHCMb4FFiDZ_2mQisnO?usp=shari ng. We expect that the H1 Tool will undergo further updates in the future. Therefore we recommend that users download a copy of the tool from the ADMLC website every time it is needed, to ensure access to the latest version. A clear appreciation of the environmental permit application process will help ensure that the H1 tool is being properly applied. Guidance can be found as follows: • • • •
England :The Environmental permitting section of the Gov.uk website Wales: Environmental Permits Scotland: Guidance | Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Northern Ireland: IPPC Guidance
Please forward any comments, suggestions or problems with the H1 tool or guidance, to the appropriate email contacts below: • Environment Agency Air Quality help desk: air.quality@environment-agency.gov.uk • Natural Resources Wales: enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk • Scottish Environmental Protection Agency permitting help desk: ppcpermitting@sepa.org.uk • Northern Ireland Environment Agency: nieainfo@daera-ni.gov.uk
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