CDOIF Guidance

CDOIF

Chemical and Downstream Oil

Industries Forum

CDOIF is a collaborative venture formed to agree strategic areas for

joint industry / trade union / regulator action aimed at delivering

health, safety and environmental improvements with cross-sector

benefits.

Greater than 0.5 ha or 5% of the area of the site adversely affected

(whichever is the lesser, subject to a lower limit of 0.25ha); or,

Greater than 5% of a designated linear feature of the site adversely affected;

or,

Greater than 5% of a particular habitat or population of individual species

adversely affected (Population refers to the known or estimated population at

the site not the national population and individual species named in the

designation, for other species refer to table 10 of the DETR guidance)

Other designated land (ESA’s, AONB’s LNRs, NSA’s etc [Refer to DETR 1999 table 3])

The level of harm that would constitute a MATTE is defined as follows:

Greater than 10% or 10 ha seriously damaged, whichever is the lesser

(seriously damaged is defined in ‘EA, 2004, Guidance identifying COMAH

Major Accidents to the Environment (MATTEs)’, table 3

Scarce habitat [Refer to DETR 1999 table 4]

The level of harm that would constitute a MATTE is defined as follows:

a) Damage to 10% of the area of the habitat or 2 ha, whichever is the lesser.

Refer to DETR 1999, table 4 for a definition of ‘scarce habitats’. Note that

10% refers to the site area.

NOTE: Definition of ‘Adversely Affected’

Means that the part of the site affected loses at least one of its reasons for designation,

or favourable conservation status, and would not naturally recover (i.e. regain its

designated status) within 3 years for terrestrial habitats and a single season for

marine/freshwater.

Marine implies everything below the high water mark, for example mud flats,

estuary.

Due consideration should be given to features such as estuaries and sea lochs. Further

information on the definition of ‘Adversely affected’ can be found in the DETR 1999

guidance, tables 1 – 4.

3.2.2

Widespread habitat (land/Water)

Non-designated land [Refer to DETR 1999 table 5]

The level of harm that would constitute a MATTE is defined as follows:

Contamination of 10 ha or more of land which, for two growing seasons or

more, prevents growing of crops or the grazing of domestic animals or

renders the area inaccessible to the public because of possible skin contact

with dangerous substances;

Guideline – Environmental Risk Tolerability for COMAH Establishments v1.0

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