The Agency says it is âminded toâ grant a permit variation for the incinerator, known as the Portland Energy Recovery Facility, because it cannot currently find legal grounds to refuse it.
A final decision has not yet been made.
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The variation would allow the plant, being developed by Powerfuel Portland, to accept 67 additional waste streams, including plastics, treated wood, contaminated construction waste, electrical items and waste upholstery linked to soâcalled âforever chemicalsâ.
Dorset Council has hit out at the announcement, saying it âstrongly opposesâ the decision.
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Council leader Cllr Nick Ireland said: âWe are very disappointed that the Environment Agency – whose motto is creating a better environment for people and wildlife – can give the green light to something that does the exact opposite.
âWe have been clear from the outset that we strongly oppose a waste incinerator in this sensitive location, and that position has not changed.
âThe Environment Agencyâs decision highlights a narrow regulatory test, but it does not address the wider risks and impacts for Dorsetâs communities and environment.â
He said the council has âconsistently warnedâ that introducing a much broader and more complex mix of waste increases uncertainty around emissions, odour and operational impacts, with potential consequences for public health and environmental quality, and raised concerns about increased waste movements and added pressure on local communities.
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Cllr Ireland added: âDorset does not want or need this incinerator. We will continue to speak up for residents and challenge proposals that risk our environment and communities.â
Campaigners from the Stop Portland Incinerator Campaign (SPIC) staged a protest outside Portland Castle on Saturday, June 20, during an event marking the 30th birthday of Portland Port, where the project will be built. The group handed out leaflets, flanked the entrances with banners and sang a reâworked version of âHappy Birthdayâ with the lyrics âPlease donât build the incineratorâ to guests, including Portland Port chief executive Bill Reeves.
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MJ Sanders, a social worker from Portland, said: âI just felt it was important to make the point to the Port that a lot of people around here are really upset and angry about their plans for this polluting incinerator.â
SPIC says the original permit was for nonârecyclable household waste, but warns the expansion increases the risk from hazardous emissions and âforever chemicalsâ that accumulate in the body and are linked to health impacts.
Olympic medallist and SPIC spokesperson Etienne Stott said: âWe are appalled by the Environment Agencyâs position about the permit⊠Peopleâs concerns about hazardous emissions seem to have been disregarded and weâre being told that living close to an obviously toxic project will have no effect on our health and wellbeing. Itâs bonkers.â
Portland’s Green Party also condemned the regulatorâs stance.
Cllr Kia Pope, leader of the Green Group on Portland Town Council, said: âThis is a crisis moment for Portland⊠If our community can mobilise on this scale and still feel powerless to influence decisions affecting its environment and quality of life, then the problem is bigger than Portland. The problem is the system itself.â
Developers Powerfuel, however, welcomed the position, saying the agency âcould not find any evidence that would cause us to refuse the permit variation applicationâ and arguing this confirms âthere are no environmental concerns regarding the Portland projectâ.
Powerfuel director Giles Frampton added: âThe project has now successfully cleared all planning and environmental permit requirements.
“Positive commercial discussions are progressing with a number of parties and the company expects to make further announcements later this year confirming the timeline for delivery of the project.â
Developers expect the project to be operational by 2030 and will create hundreds of jobs during construction and dozens of full time roles once completed.
A consultation on the draft permit variation and decision is open until 11.59pm on July 31, with Dorset Council, SPIC and Portland Greens urging residents to respond, and SPIC planning a largeâscale protest on August 1.
