Two logics apply mainly when identifying a permit obligation
- From all emission sources of an installation in one production territory, pollutants are emitted during the year in quantities exceeding the threshold quantity set in Annex to Regulation No 67.
- If the threshold quantity of at least one pollutant or group of pollutants is exceeded, it is necessary to apply for an air pollution permit.
- Such installations include, for example, wood and metalwork companies using different finishing chemicals containing volatile organic compounds (VOC).
- In addition, there are several other activities of the installation where the company has to assess whether it is necessary to apply for an air pollution permit, e.g. extraction of mineral resources, production of crushed stone, waste destruction, wastewater treatment and storage of sludge, etc.
- In addition, it must be borne in mind whether the threshold quantities set out in Regulation No. 67 are set for a specific pollutant or a group of substances. For example, all fractions of matter are calculated together, while heavy metals and their compounds are calculated separately. Read more in the corresponding guidelines of the Environmental Board -
NB! IN CASE OF COMBUSTION PLANTS, LOADING OF PETROL AND CATTLE, PIG AND POULTRY FARMING, ONLY §3, i.e. ACTIVITY-BASED THRESHOLD CAPACITIES ARE APPLIED.
- The installation has a combustion plant which rated thermal input corresponding to heat input is 1 MWth or higher upon combustion of fuel. A combustion plant must be registered if it operates less than 500 hours per year.
- The total annual loading turnover of petroleum products, other motor or liquid fuels, fuel components or fuel-like products (pursuant to §20 t of the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act) at a terminal or filling station is 10,000 m³ or higher.
- The number of animals in case of animal husbandry in an installation:
- The number of places for fattening pigs in pig farms is 1,000 or more
- The number of places for dairy cows in cattle farms is 300 or more
- The number of places for poultry in poultry farms is 30,000 or more.
NB! IN CASE OF BREEDING PIGS AND CATTLE, THE NUMBER OF PLACES OF ANIMALS IS CALCULATED USING VARIOUS FACTORS. SEE §3 (5) OF REGULATION NO. 67.
Regulation No. 67 of the Minister of the Environment of 14.12.2016 "Threshold capacities for the activities of installations and threshold quantities for the emissions of pollutants beyond which an air pollution permit is required for the activities of installations." establishes the threshold capacities for the activities of installations and threshold quantities for the emissions of pollutant emissions beyond which an air pollution permit is required.
NB! An air pollution permit is required regardless of the threshold quantities or threshold capacities established in Regulation No. 67 if upon determination of air quality level, it is ascertained that the emissions of pollutants released from the emission sources of an installation cause an exceedance of the air limit value or target value established for a pollutant on the basis of Regulation No. 75 outside the production area of the installation.
NB! An operator of a stationary emission source required to hold an air pollution permit must hold an air pollution permit before application for a building permit for the respective emission source.
Read more about applying for and processing of an air pollution permit here.
- Holder of a stationary emission source, holding an environmental protection permit, shall ensure that no more pollutants are emitted into the ambient air from their emission source than permitted in the permit. Permitted emissions of pollutants (including maximum instantaneous emissions) are set for a permit in such a way that the total quantity of pollutants emitted into the ambient air from all emission sources within one production area does not exceed the relevant air quality limit values outside the production area.
- If, after the authorisation has been granted and the installation has started operating, it becomes clear that the limit or target value is likely to be exceeded, the Environmental Board shall require the holder of the permit to have an action plan for reducing pollutants. It will be submitted for approval to the Environmental Board, which will send the plan for an opinion to the local government. The plan must ensure that, once the prescribed measures have been taken, the concentration of pollutants in the air outside the production area is below the limit or target value.
Submitting an annual report
A possessor of a stationary emission source holding an environmental permit must submit a report on activities related to pollution of ambient air by 31 January of the following year. An operator with a registration of a stationary emission source operator must submit an annual report for each third calendar year by 31 January of the following year. The report is submitted through the information system KOTKAS.
The submission of the annual report related to the pollution of ambient air is regulated by Regulation No. 68 of the Minister of the Environment of 14.12.2016 "The format and procedure for submission of an annual report on the pollution of ambient air by the holder of an environmental protection permit". When collecting data for the preparation of reports, the holder of the emission source must use the best available information, including measurement results, data on specific emissions, material balance sheet and indirect monitoring, and calculations, expert assessments and other information in compliance with internationally accepted methods.
How to submit the annual report on ambient air in the information system KOTKAS?
See online training held on 13 January 2021 HERE. The training was organised by the Environmental Board, the Environment Agency and the Ministry of the Environment.
Last updated: 01.12.2022
