Natural Resources Wales
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Formation | 1 April 2013 |
---|---|
Type | Welsh Government Sponsored Body |
Purpose | Environmental protection and regulation; maintenance of natural resources |
Headquarters | Tŷ Cambria, Newport Road, Cardiff |
Region served
|
Wales |
Chair
|
Diane McCrea[1] |
Chief Executive
|
Emyr Roberts[2] |
Affiliations | Welsh Government |
Website | Natural Resources Wales |
Natural Resources Wales (Welsh: Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru) is a Welsh Government sponsored body, which became operational from 1 April 2013,[3] when it took over the management of the natural resources of Wales.[4] It was formed from a merger of the Countryside Council for Wales, Environment Agency Wales, and the Forestry Commission Wales, and also assumes some other roles formerly taken by Welsh Government.[4]
Merger debate
As a justification for the merger, the Welsh Government claimed that the new body would produce savings of £158 million over ten years.[5] Whilst the three agencies were broadly supportive of the move,[5] the board appointed by Environment minister John Griffiths did not include any representatives from the forestry sector[6], and Forestry Commission Wales chairman Jon Owen Jones - the former Welsh Labour MP for Cardiff Central - raised concerns that the forestry industry's voice would not be adequately heard in the new organisation.[7]
Regulatory functions
Natural Resources Wales is responsible for over forty different types of regulatory regime, having inherited these roles from its predecessor organisations. They include:[8]
- consents and assents for sites of special scientific interest
- radioactive substances (both nuclear and non-nuclear)
- licensing of species protected under European law
- marine licensing
- licensing of tree felling
- surface water & groundwater discharges
- water abstraction and impoundment (and drought measures)
- packaging regulations and EU/UK trading schemes
- commercial fisheries of eels, salmon and shellfish
- access restrictions and designation and review of open access land under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
- major industry (refineries, chemicals, cement, power stations, iron and steel, food and drink etc.)
- waste industry (storage, treatment, disposal)
References
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- ↑ http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/jon-owen-jones-kept-board-2022729
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- ↑ Natural Resources Wales / Regulatory responsibilities
External links
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