29. The making and storage of silage in bales or bulk bags.
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The bales or bulk bags must not be stored, opened, or unwrapped within 10 metres of any—
river, burn, ditch or loch, as measured from the top of the bank,
wetland,
transitional water or coastal water, as measured from the shoreline, or
opening into a surface water drain which silage effluent could enter if it were to escape,
the bulk bags must—
have an impermeable membrane,
be resealed when not in use, to prevent the escape of silage effluent,
incorporate a facility to enable the removal of any excess effluent without spillage, and
be situated on a firm level surface,
the bales must be wrapped and sealed into impermeable membranes or enclosed in impermeable bags.
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30. The treatment of silage effluent which consists mainly of rainwater by draining it from a silo through a constructed farm wetland.
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Silage effluent which consists mainly of rainwater may be drained through a constructed farm wetland only if—
the silo is open for use,
the drainage of the silage effluent from the silo to the constructed farm wetland is direct and through a separate channel or pipe from the base of the silo,
no crop is added to the silo whilst it is open.
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31. The making and storage of silage other than in bales or bulk bags.
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Silage must be made and stored in a silo which—
complies with paragraphs (b) to (g),
if constructed, or substantially reconstructed or enlarged, on or after 1 September 1991, in addition to paragraph (a)(i), complies with paragraphs (h) to (j)
if new (including a silo constructed from used materials), or substantially reconstructed or enlarged, on or after 1 January 2022, has a life expectancy of at least 20 years, with proper maintenance, from its construction, reconstruction or enlargement,
the base of the silo must be constructed with channels to collect silage effluent from the silo, and with channels or pipes which must drain any such silage effluent to an effluent tank,
the capacity of the effluent tank must be at least—
for a silo with a capacity of less than 1500m³, 20 litres for every 1m³ of silo capacity, or
for a silo with a capacity of 1500m³ or greater, 30,000 litres, plus 6.7 litres for every 1m³ of silo capacity over 1500m³,
where the effluent collection system associated with the silo incorporates a system of pumps and sumps, it must be fitted with an automatic overfill prevention device with a dedicated electrical supply and an alarm,
the base of the silo, the base and walls of its effluent tank and channels, and the walls of any pipes must be impermeable,
the base and any walls of the silo, its effluent tank and channels, and the walls of any pipes must, so far as reasonably practicable, be resistant to attack by silage effluent and, where the walls are made of earth, they must be lined with an impermeable membrane of 1000 gauge polyethylene or a material of at least equivalent impermeability and durability,
if the silo has retaining walls which are not made of earth, the stored silage level within that silo once compacted must be no greater than the height of the retaining wall,
the base of any silo constructed, or substantially reconstructed or enlarged, on or after 1 September 1991 must, in addition to paragraph (b)—
comply with British Standard EN 1992-3:2006 and British Standard EN-1-1-2004 +A1:2014 (for concrete bases), or British Standard EN 13108-4:2016 (for hot-rolled asphalt bases),
where the silo has retaining walls made other than of earth, extend beyond those walls,
where any part of an effluent tank constructed, or substantially reconstructed or enlarged, on or after 1 September 1991 is installed below ground level, it must be designed and constructed in accordance with the Code of Practice on Buildings and Structures for Agriculture published by the British Standards Institution and numbered BS 5502-22:2003+A1:2013,
a silo constructed, or substantially reconstructed or enlarged, on or after 1 September 1991, which has retaining walls which are not made of earth, must have retaining walls capable of withstanding the minimum wall loadings calculated in accordance with the Code of Practice on Buildings and Structures for Agriculture published by the British Standards Institution and numbered BS 5502-22:2003+A1:2013,
a silo constructed (including from used materials), or substantially reconstructed or enlarged, on or after 1 January 2022, which has retaining walls which are not made of earth, must have the maximum loadings of the silo visibly displayed on it,
a silo, its effluent tank, channels and any associated pipes constructed on or after 1 January 2022 must not be situated within 10 metres of any surface water or opening into a surface water drain which silage effluent could enter if it were to escape,
the silo, its effluent tank, channel and pipes must be operationally maintained to be free of any structural defects during its lifecycle,
the silo must not be filled beyond the drainage channel,
where a silo or effluent tank is to be constructed or to be substantially rebuilt or enlarged—
the operator must notify SEPA no later than 30 days prior to commencing the works,
the notification under sub-paragraph (i) must be accompanied by an engineering plan for the works to be carried out,
the operator must retain the engineer’s final sign-off certificate for the works for the lifetime of the silo or effluent tank, for inspection by SEPA on request.
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32. The storage of slurry.
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Where slurry is produced on the farm by housed livestock, the slurry must be stored in a slurry storage system, liquid digestate storage system, or slurry bags which have sufficient capacity to store the total quantity of slurry likely to be produced in—
26 weeks by housed pigs, or
22 weeks by housed cattle,
taking account of any additional inputs to or exports from the storage as described in paragraph (c),
the total quantity of slurry referred to in paragraph (a) is to be calculated by adding up the figures produced for each type of livestock, as applicable, in accordance with the formula for housed pigs or housed cattle, contained in regulation 7(2) of the Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2008,
in calculating the minimum storage capacity necessary to comply with paragraph (a), the following figures must be included in respect of the relevant 26 or 22 week period—
the quantity of any rainfall (including any fall of snow, hail or sleet) that is likely to enter the system (directly or indirectly) including from dungsteads, silage pits or dirty yards,
the quantity of any cleaning water that is likely to enter the system or slurry bag,
the likely quantity of any imported slurries and liquid digestate added to the system or slurry bag,
the quantity of any slurry exported off farm,
where slurry is imported onto the farm, there must be sufficient storage capacity on the farm to store the quantities imported during periods when application is not authorised under activity 18 of column 1 of this schedule or would not comply with the requirements of the Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2008,
the capacity of any facility used for the temporary storage of slurry before it is transferred to a slurry storage tank must be the equivalent of at least 1.5% of the minimum on farm storage capacity in accordance with paragraph (a),
the slurry storage system must—
comply with paragraphs (g) to (l),
where constructed, or substantially reconstructed or enlarged, on or after 1 September 1991, comply, in addition to paragraph (f)(i), with paragraphs (m) and (n),
if new (including systems constructed from used materials), substantially reconstructed or enlarged, on or after 1 January 2022, have a life expectancy of at least 20 years with proper maintenance, from its construction, reconstruction or enlargement,
the base and walls of any slurry storage tank, any channels and reception pit, and the walls of any pipes, must be impermeable (except where the conditions in paragraph (j) are complied with) and free from any cracks or structural defects,
where slurry flows into a channel before discharging into a reception pit, and the flow is controlled by means of a sluice or valve, the capacity of the reception pit must be sufficient to store the maximum quantity of slurry which can be released by opening the sluice or valve,
the slurry storage tank, channels, pipes, valves, and reception pit must be operationally maintained to be free of any structural defects during their lifecycle,
where the walls of the slurry storage tank are not impermeable—
the base of the tank must extend beyond its walls and be provided with channels designed and constructed so as to collect any slurry which may escape from the tank,
the tank must have adequate provision to collect, drain and store slurry from the channels to a slurry storage system,
where the slurry storage tank or reception pit is fitted with a drainage pipe—
there must be two valves in series on the pipe and each valve must be capable of stopping the flow of slurry through the pipe and must be kept shut and locked in that position when not in use,
sub-paragraph (i) does not apply in relation to a slurry storage tank which drains through the pipe into another slurry storage tank of equal or greater capacity or where the tops of the tanks are at the same level,
where a slurry storage system has walls which are made of earth, the system must not be filled to a level which allows less than 750 millimetres of freeboard, and in all other cases the slurry storage tank must not be filled to a level which allows less than 300 millimetres of freeboard,
the base and walls of any slurry storage tank, channels and reception pit, valves, and the walls of any pipes, constructed, or substantially reconstructed or enlarged, on or after 1 September 1991 must be protected against corrosion in accordance with paragraph 7.2 of the Code of Practice on Buildings and Structures for Agriculture published by the British Standards Institution and numbered BS 5502-50:1993+A2:2010,
the base and walls of any slurry storage tank and any reception pit constructed, or substantially reconstructed or enlarged, on or after 1 September 1991, must be capable of withstanding characteristic loads calculated on the assumptions and in the manner as set out in paragraph 5 of the Code of Practice on Buildings and Structures for Agriculture published by the British Standards Institution and numbered BS 5502-50:1993+A2:2010,
any slurry storage system, constructed, or substantially reconstructed or enlarged, on or after 1 January 2022, which has walls made of earth, must be lined with an impermeable sheet material which, with proper maintenance, slurry cannot permeate for a period of at least 20 years,
a slurry storage system constructed on or after 1 January 2022 must not be situated within 10 metres of any surface water or opening into a surface water drain which slurry could enter into if it were to escape,
a slurry bag may only be used to store slurry if—
the bag is constructed of impermeable material of sufficient strength and structural integrity such that it is unlikely to burst or leak in its ordinary use, and
it is situated in a bund which complies with the following requirements—
the bund must be of at least equivalent capacity to the slurry bag,
the bund must be lined with an impermeable sheet material which, with proper maintenance, slurry cannot permeate for a period of at least 20 years,
the bund must have a means of removing rainwater, and
other than as necessary to allow rainwater to be removed, the base and walls of the bund must not be penetrated by any valve, pipe or other opening,
where a slurry storage system (including a reception pit or channels) is to be constructed or to be substantially rebuilt or enlarged—
the operator must notify SEPA no later than 30 days prior to commencing the works,
the notification under sub-paragraph (i) must be accompanied by an engineering plan for the works to be carried out,
the operator must retain the engineer’s final sign-off certificate for the works for the lifetime of the slurry storage system, for inspection by SEPA on request,
slurry may be stored in a liquid digestate storage system which complies with the rules in column 2 of activity 34 of this schedule in relation to the storage of liquid digestate.
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33. The treatment of slurry which consists mainly of rainwater and washings by draining through a constructed farm wetland.
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Slurry may be drained through a constructed farm wetland only if it consists mainly of rainwater and washings which derive from—
a midden which mainly contains farm yard manure and is situated where its contents can be affected directly by precipitation,
any uncovered yard, used by livestock to move from one area to another but not including areas covered by paragraph (b),
a yard which is used for the gathering or holding of livestock no more than once a week and which can be directly affected by precipitation,
slurry must not be drained through a constructed farm wetland from areas—
where livestock are gathered or held more than once a week, or
used for livestock movement or holding prior to, during or after being—
milked,
housed, or
fed,
slurry which contains pesticide must not be drained through a constructed farm wetland,
all reasonable steps must be taken to ensure that the drainage of slurry through a constructed farm wetland does not cause pollution of the water environment.
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34. Storage of liquid digestate unless the storage is regulated by—
a waste management licence in terms of section 35 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990,
the registration of a registered exemption under the Waste Management Licensing (Scotland) Regulations 2011,
a permit in terms of regulation 11 of the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2012.
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Where liquid digestate is produced on the farm, it must be stored in a liquid digestate storage system, slurry storage system or slurry bag which has sufficient capacity to accommodate the volume of liquid digestate produced during periods when application is not authorised under activity 18 of column 1 of this schedule or would not comply with the requirements of the Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2008,
where liquid digestate is imported onto a farm, it must be stored in a liquid digestate storage system, slurry storage system or slurry bag which has sufficient capacity to store the quantities imported during periods when application is not authorised under activity 18 of column 1 of this schedule or would not comply with the requirements of the Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2008,
in calculating the required storage capacity, the following figures must be included—
the quantity of any rainfall (including any fall of snow, hail or sleet that is likely to enter the system or slurry bag (directly or indirectly) including from dungsteads, silage pits or dirty yards,
the quantity of any cleaning water that is likely to enter the system or slurry bag,
the quantity of any slurry from housed livestock,
the likely quantity of any imported slurries and liquid digestate added to the system or slurry bag,
the quantity of any liquid digestate exported off farm,
a liquid digestate storage system must,
comply with paragraphs (e) to (k),
if new (including systems constructed from used materials), or substantially reconstructed or enlarged, on or after 1 January 2022, have a life expectancy of at least 20 years, with proper maintenance, from its construction, reconstruction or enlargement,
the base and walls of the liquid digestate storage tank and the walls of any feedstock tank, channels and pipes must be impermeable,
the base and walls of the liquid digestate storage tank and feedstock tank, valves and the walls of any pipes must be protected against corrosion in accordance with paragraph 7.2 of the Code of Practice on Buildings and Structures for Agriculture published by the British Standards Institution and numbered BS 5502-50:1993+A2:2010,
the base and walls of the liquid digestate storage tank and any feedstock tank must be capable of withstanding characteristic loads calculated on the assumptions and in the manner as set out in paragraph 5 of the Code of Practice on Buildings and Structures for Agriculture published by the British Standards Institution and numbered BS 5502-50:1993+A2:2010,
the liquid digestate storage system must not be situated within 10 metres of any surface water or opening into a surface water drain which liquid digestate could enter if it were to escape,
the liquid digestate tank, pipes, valves and feedstock tank must be operationally maintained to be free of any structural defects during their lifecycle,
where the liquid digestate storage tank is fitted with a drainage pipe—
there must be two valves in series on the pipe and each valve must be capable of stopping the flow of liquid digestate through the pipe and must be kept shut and locked in that position when not in use,
sub-paragraph (i) does not apply in relation to a liquid digestate storage tank which drains through the pipe into another liquid digestate storage tank of equal or greater capacity or where the tops of the tanks are at the same level,
where a liquid digestate storage system includes a lagoon with walls which are made of earth, the lagoon must not be filled to a level which allows less than 750 millimetres of freeboard, and in all other cases the liquid digestate storage tank must not be filled to a level which allows less than 300 millimetres of freeboard,
where a liquid digestate storage system constructed, or substantially reconstructed or enlarged, on or after 1 January 2022 includes a lagoon with walls which are made of earth, the lagoon must be lined with an impermeable sheet material which, with proper maintenance, liquid digestate cannot permeate for a period of at least 20 years,
a slurry bag may only be used to store liquid digestate if—
the bag is constructed of impermeable material, is of sufficient strength and structural integrity, and is unlikely to burst or leak in its ordinary use, and
it is situated in a bund which complies with the following requirements—
the bund must be of at least equivalent capacity to the slurry bag,
the bund must be lined with an impermeable sheet material which, with proper maintenance, liquid digestate cannot permeate for a period of at least 20 years,
the bund must have a means of removing rainwater from it,
other than as necessary to allow rainwater to be removed, the base and walls of the bund must not be penetrated by any valve, pipe or other opening,
where a liquid digestate storage system is to be constructed or to be substantially rebuilt or enlarged—
the operator must notify SEPA no later than 30 days prior to commencing the works,
the notification under sub-paragraph (i) must be accompanied by an engineering plan for the works to be carried out, and
the operator must retain for the lifetime of the liquid digestate storage system, for inspection by SEPA on request, the engineer’s final sign-off certificate for the works,
liquid digestate may be stored in a slurry storage system which complies with the requirements in column 2 of activity 32 of this schedule in relation to the storage of slurry.
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