An '''operating authority''' is a body empowered under the Land Drainage Act 1991<ref>[{{cite web | url=http://www.opsilegislation.gov.uk/actsukpga/acts19911991/Ukpga_19910059_en_159/contents/data.htm | title=Land Drainage Act 1991 (c| website=www.59) Chapter 59 Internal Drainage Boards]legislation.gov.uk}}</ref> or [[Water Resources Act 1991]]<ref>{{cite [web | url=http://www.opsilegislation.gov.uk/actsukpga/acts19911991/Ukpga_19910057_en_157/contents/data.htm | title=Water Resources Act 1991 (c| website=www.57)]legislation.gov.uk}}</ref> to undertake land drainage or flood protection work in [[England]] and [[Wales]]. Operating authorities include [[Internalinternal Drainage Board|Internal Drainagedrainage Boardsboard]]s, the [[Environment Agency]] and [[Locallocal Authoritiesauthorities]].<ref>[{{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 }}</ref>
