this, Environment Agency Wales gave advice and issued permits, authorisations and consents to businesses that complied with legislative requirements. When pollution occurred, Environment Agency Wales worked to minimise any environmental damage, identify the source and stop any further pollution. If businesses failed to comply with their permits, and pollution occurred, Environment Agency Wales took enforcement action against them, including prosecution on occasion. Environment Agency Wales also led on dealing with serious waste crime which is often organised, large-scale and profitable. Priority waste crime types include large-scale illegal dumping, illegal waste sites and illegal exports of waste. It also dealt with high risk activities such as illegal disposal of wastes, where there was an actual or imminent threat of significant flooding or pollution. Work with people and communities to create better places Environment Agency Wales created and improved habitats for fish and other water-based wildlife such as salmon and helped species that were at risk, such as the freshwater pearl mussel. It also managed licences for fishing and navigation, so that people in Wales – and people visiting Wales – could enjoy the water environment. Work with businesses and other organisations to use resources wisely Environment Agency Wales licensed water abstractions from groundwater, rivers and lakes to ensure that the needs of people and business were met whilst protecting the environment and wildlife. It also regulated waste management facilities, such as landfill sites or large composting facilities, to ensure that they did not cause environmental damage and monitored the Landfill Allowances Scheme to track how waste is managed in Wales. Accreditation For the fourth year running, Stonewall Cymru, named Environment Agency Wales as the best place to work in Wales for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in 2012. Environment Agency Wales was accredited to both the ISO 14001 and EMAS environmental management standard. As a Welsh Government Sponsored Body, Environment Agency Wales had to provide its services within the Welsh political boundary (its public facing boundary) in Welsh as well as in English in accordance with the Welsh Language Act 1993. Structure Environment Agency Wales had three operational areas, South East Wales, South West Wales and North Wales. Its other departments were Flood and Coastal Risk Management, Corporate Services, Human Resources, Finance and the policy department known as Strategic Unit Wales. All departments reported to the Director of Environment Agency Wales, Chris Mills. Committees Environment Agency Wales had three statutory committees,