operating authority

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An operating authority is a body empowered under the Land Drainage Act 1991{{cite web | url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/59/contents/data.htm | title=Land Drainage Act 1991 | website=www.legislation.gov.uk}} or Water Resources Act 1991{{cite web | url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/57/contents/data.htm | title=Water Resources Act 1991 | website=www.legislation.gov.uk}} to undertake land drainage or flood protection work in England and Wales. Operating authorities include internal drainage boards, the Environment Agency and local authorities.{{cite web | url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/idbrev/report.pdf | title=Internal Drainage Board Review – Final Report | access-date=2008-05-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209151453/http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/idbrev/report.pdf | archive-date=2008-12-09 | url-status=dead }}