DCMR Environmental Protection Agency
DCMR Milieudienst Rijnmond is the Regional Environmental Protection Agency of the local and regional governments operating in Rijnmond, the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The more than 500 staff members include experts in environmental technology, environmental law, chemical technology, safety and health, and organisation and management support. DCMR has more than 100 inspectors, of which 50 enforcers. DCMR has 25 legal experts. DCMR issues licenses to virtually all of the 22.000 enterprises in the area and carries out inspections to monitor compliance with the permit conditions. DCMR issues the annual environmental monitoring report for the Rotterdam region, together with 18 other local and regional organisations. DCMR has its own air pollution monitoring-network. A mobile station for noise measurements and a special stench-measuring panel form part of the measurement instruments. DCMR operates a monitoring and alarm centre, which registers complaints of inhabitants and incidents in companies. In 2002 about 15,000 complaints (21,000 in 2001) and more than 400 incidents were registered and dealt with. The centre
co-ordinates immediate action if necessary.
Over the past 10 years DCMR has successfully assisted many governments in Central and Eastern Europe in setting up and carrying out environmental projects. Main objective of these projects was to assist regional and local authorities in the development and implementation of their regional environmental policy. The project results focused on environmental accession to the EU. The international office can utilise for its international projects all resources, know-how and experience of DCMR and DCMR staff. At this moment the office has 4 staff members and 6 assistants in four countries. DCMR International Office has lead a Phare twinning project in Poland, in which approximately 400 staff members of the regional environmental offices and regional environmental inspectorates were trained. Recommendations have been made on improving the efficiency of the Polish environmental administration. The Environment Agency for England and Wales was the junior partner in this project.
By the end of 2004 another Phare twinning project will be carried out together with InfoMil and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. This project deals with extensive training of environmental staff on IPPC at all levels of the state administration in Poland.
Furthermore DCMR operated in the Phare twinning project on Reinforcement of IPPC-implementation in the Czech Republic in 2003-2004. This project was carried out together with InfoMil and the Environment Agency of England and Wales. By the end of 2004 another Phare twinning project will be carried out together with InfoMil and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. This project deals with extensive training of environmental staff on IPPC at all levels of the state administration.
DCMR International Office initiated the Network Environmental Protection Agencies at regional and local level (EURREPAS/NEAR). The main aim of this network is mutual support and quick and effective expertise exchange for efficient implementation of EU legislation. This network will co-operate with existing networks of, amongst others, IMPEL, REC and ICLEI.
Some further information (in English) is available on the DCMR website: www.dcmr.nl
