InfoMil is part of Senter/Novem, which is a government agency in the Netherlands. InfoMil works under full responsibility of the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment (VROM). Functioning as a link between national authorities and regional authorities, it has ample experience with information flows and co-operation between authorities at several administrative levels, including training, international legislation and networks, like (IMPEL). It employs staff that chaired the IMPEL discussion on ‘Minimum criteria for environmental inspections’, as well as participated in most IMPEL projects (e.g. ‘Interrelationship between IPPC, EIA and Seveso directives and EMAS Regulation’). InfoMil provides for the Dutch input and takes part in all the Technical Working Groups on BAT (Best Available Techniques) in Seville, functions as the Dutch BAT centre and carries responsibility for preparing IPPC- and Minimum criteria reporting to Brussels and IPPC implementation training in the Netherlands. It maintains relations with staff of the EU IPPC Bureau and with the responsible people on IPPC in the European Commission. InfoMil supports the Dutch Ministry of Environment in adjusting the present Dutch environmental legislation to IPPC and other EU-legal developments.
In this context it organises the ENAP project, which includes Czech participation.
The National Information Centre for Environmental Licensing and Enforcement (InfoMil) is an organisation that serves as an intermediary between the various authorities and target groups in the Netherlands in the field of environmental licensing and enforcement. InfoMil works on the basis of government policy and policy instruments, such as laws, policies, decrees, regulations and guidelines. InfoMil focuses on municipalities and provinces and other authorities that are expected to implement this policy. Permitting and inspection of companies are very important instruments in environmental protection. InfoMil has three main tasks:
Helpdesk: to be addressed when there is a need for explanation or interpretation of the law, the articles that should be taken up in the permit, which standards are important to take a certain decision and how to introduce a company performance plan in the permit or inspection. This task is supported by InfoMil’s expertise centre covering topics like environmental impact assessment, IPPC, best available techniques (BAT), air emissions, soil protection, waste (prevention), sewage water, external safety, radiation, agricultural aspects, noise, sampling, etc.
Authorisation processes: supporting the development, introduction and implementation of new environmental legislation, guidelines, policies etc. This is done through communication (workshops, handbooks, networking, documents, Website, carrying out secretariats). In the field of permitting this may lead to e.g. guidelines, in the field of inspection to e.g. the national environmental inspection program, practical guidance for inspections, monitoring arrangements etc.
Policy support: assisting departments of the Ministry of Environment in the drafting of policy documents, gathering information on difficulties about enforceability and practicability of environmental legislation, providing suggestions for adjustments of legislation, drafting reports and legislation.
Whenever InfoMil is approached with questions, either by phone or by e-mail, they will always provide an answer. In all cases, the person or organisation that asks the question will remain responsible for the use of the information. InfoMil plays a neutral supporting role and is not the decision-maker.
The InfoMil website (with some information in English) can be found under: www.infomil.nl
