(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Groundwater Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 in the following ways.
Regulation 2 is amended to include key definitions contained in the Groundwater Directive.
Regulation 7 is amended to clarify that the Department will cooperate with the relevant Government Department in Ireland in establishing threshold values for groundwater.
Regulation 8 is amended to clarify the levels at which threshold values may be established and the criteria for classifying a groundwater body as poor following a breach of a threshold value.
Regulation 9 is amended to set out the relevant provisions of the Groundwater and Water Framework Directives which are used for assessing groundwater chemical status.
Regulation 10 is amended so baseline levels and other requirements are considered when identifying significant and sustained upward trends.
Regulation 12 is added to insert a Schedule into the Regulations to set out the threshold values that will be used to assess groundwater chemical status.
Regulations 14 and 15 are amended to require the Department to include measures to prevent and limit the input of hazardous substances and non-hazardous pollutants into groundwater within the programme of measures included in the River Basin Management Plans established under the Water Framework Directive.
Regulation 16 is amended to prevent prejudice to any more stringent requirements in EU Legislation.