The IRI uses a questionnaire to review the environmental authority against the requirements of the RMCEI. The IMPEL “Doing the right things for permitting and Inspections” Guidance Book has been used to help structure the questionnaire and the review. The Guidance Book was initially developed to support authorities in implementing the Industrial Emissions Directive and describes the different steps of the Environmental Permitting and Inspection Cycle.
When drafting the Terms of Reference for their IRI, the environmental authority decides on the precise scope of the review in accordance with its specific needs. The IRI is applicable to authorities involved in permitting and inspection or indeed both.