- The proceedings of a registration is an easier procedure compared to the proceedings of an environmental permit.
- An operator operating on the basis of a registration of a stationary emission source does not have to pay a state fee or a pollution fee.
- A certificate of registration is generally issued for an indefinite period, but it is also possible to apply for it for a fixed term.
- If changes occur in the data or activities of the operator that affect the activities permitted on the basis of the registration, the Environmental Board must be informed immediately. If necessary, the certificate of registration is amended or, in certain situations, an environmental permit must be applied for instead.
NB! Registration does not replace an environmental permit!
Registration of an operator of a stationary emission source
Operators who are required to register their activities are established in Regulation No. 60 of the Minister of the Environment “Threshold capacities for activities beyond which it is required to register an operator of a stationary emission source, application for registration and format of the certificate”.
The activity of an operator of a stationary emission source is registered if:
- A combustion plant has rated thermal input corresponding to heat input of 1 MWth or higher and the combustion plant operates less than 500 hours per year.
Obligations arising directly from certain legislation apply to operators subject to registration:
- When handling petrol at terminals and service stations (i.e. filling stations), the terms and conditions of Regulation No. 85 of the Minister of the Environment of 2016 must be met, such as:
- When loading petrol into storage installations at filling stations and in tanks used for the intermediate storage of vapours, vapour is returned through a vapour-tight connection line to the mobile container delivering the petrol (e.g. road tanker).
- Petrol vapour-recovery system must comply with the requirements provided for in Regulation No 85 and must be checked periodically.
- A registered operator submits the annual report to the Environmental Board for every third calendar year by 31 January of the year following that year (Regulation No. 68 of the Minister of the Environment of 14.12.2016).
Operator using organic solvents
Operators using organic solvents who exceed the thresholds established in §113 of the Industrial Emissions Act must register their activities if less than 0.5 tonnes of volatile organic compounds (VOC) is emitted into the air per year due to their activities.
- Volatile organic compound means any organic compound having at 293.15 K (i.e. 20 C) a vapour pressure of 0.01 kPa or more, or having a corresponding volatility under the particular conditions of use. Organic solvents mean volatile organic compounds used for a specific purpose.
- An operator with a registration obligation must notify the Environmental Board of the proposed change when the installation is substantially changed.
- A substantial change to an installation means the result of a change in the nominal capacity of the installation which causes an increase of more than 25 per cent in the emissions of volatile organic compounds in the case of a small installation and of more than 10 per cent in the case of all other installations, or another change which is likely to have a significant adverse impact on the environment, human health, well-being, property and cultural heritage.
- The Environmental Board shall verify the obligation to hold a permit for the notified activity on the basis of the information received. Where a permit is not mandatory, a registration certificate with changed data shall be sent to the operator.
- Measures shall be taken for ensuring compliance with the established emission limit values of volatile organic compounds in waste gases or with the requirements arising from a volatile organic compounds emissions reduction scheme prepared on the basis of §139 of THS (Industrial Emissions Act). (§136 of THS)
- Substances or mixtures which are classified as carcinogens, mutagens or toxic to reproduction shall be substituted as soon as possible and to the maximum volume possible by less hazardous substances or mixtures as much as possible. (§140 of THS)
- Controlled conditions are implemented to prevent the release into the environment of volatile organohalogen compounds carrying the risk phrase R40 or R68 or the hazard statement H341 or H351 and of the volatile organic compounds carrying the hazard statements or risk phrases referred to in §140 of THS as much as possible. (§141 THS)
- Measures shall be taken in order to minimize the emissions of volatile organic compounds during an installation start-up and shut-down. (§143 THS https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/115032019018?leiaKehtiv)
- At the request of the Environmental Board, data must be submitted so that the compliance of the concentration of pollutants with the established limit values can be assessed. (§145 (3) of THShttps://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/115032019018?leiaKehtiv)
Last updated: 10.12.2025
