Documentation on Gas and Dust Emissions 

PERMIT FOR INTRODUCTION OF GASES OR DUST INTO THE AIR 

A permit for introducing gases or dust into the air is a specific type of emission permit that pertains to the emission of pollutants into the atmosphere. This permit is issued by the environmental protection authority and defines the conditions for introducing gases or dust into the air by a specific emission source (e.g., power plant, industrial facility, chimney). 

The permit for introducing gases or dust into the air specifies the permissible emission levels of pollutants that can be introduced by the emission source. It also outlines the timing and quantities of emission measurements that the owner of the emission source must conduct. Additionally, the permit defines technological requirements, as well as monitoring and reporting requirements for emissions to the environmental protection authority. 

Owners of emission sources are obligated to comply with the requirements specified in the permit for introducing gases or dust into the air and to monitor their emissions. In case the permissible level of pollutant emissions is exceeded, the owner of the emission source is required to take actions to reduce emissions and inform the environmental protection authority about the situation. 

The permit for introducing gases or dust into the air aims to protect the atmosphere from harmful pollutant emissions and is essential for conducting industrial activities in a sustainable and environmentally safe manner. 

HOW LONG IS THE PERMIT VALID? 

The permit for introducing gases or dust into the air is valid for a maximum of 10 years.

CAN YOU BE DENIED A PERMIT? 

You will not receive a permit if: 

• Your installation could cause a significant deterioration of the environment or pose a threat to human life or health.
• You have not applied appropriate technologies to your newly commissioned or significantly modified installation.
• The application concerns entitlements covered by a decision to withdraw or limit a permit, and less than 2 years have passed since your permit was finally withdrawn or restricted.
• The operation of the installation would exceed permissible emission standards or environmental quality standards.
• Your installation is a municipal waste processing facility and does not meet environmental protection requirements or requirements specified for such installations.
• Issuing the permit would be inconsistent with the air protection program applicable to the zone where the installation is located.
• The installation is located within industrial zone boundaries and would violate the agreements contained in the regulation establishing it.

WHEN IS A PERMIT NOT REQUIRED? 

A permit for emitting gases or dust into the air is not required if you operate or plan to operate:

1) Energy installations – with a nominal thermal power of up to:

• 5 MW – coal-fired;
• 10 MW – coke-fired, biomass, diesel, fuel oil, gasoline, liquid biofuels, or coke-fired, biomass, diesel, fuel oil, gasoline, liquid biofuels, and coal, with the nominal thermal power introduced in coal not exceeding 5 MW;
• 15 MW – gas-fired or gas-fired along with coal, coke, biomass, diesel, fuel oil, gasoline, liquid biofuels, with the nominal thermal power introduced in coal not exceeding 5 MW, and the nominal thermal power introduced in coal, coke, biomass, diesel, fuel oil, gasoline, liquid biofuels not exceeding 10 MW.

2) Non-energy installations – with a nominal thermal power of up to 1 MW, fired with coal, coke, biomass, diesel, fuel oil, gasoline, liquid biofuels, or gas, from which:

• Gases or dust introduced into the air originate solely from the combustion of these fuels, or
• Gases or dust introduced into the air from processes other than fuel combustion in these installations do not exceed 10% of permissible substance levels in the air or 10% of reference values, averaged over 1 hour.

3) Glass production installations – with a daily output of less than 1 Mg.

4) Coal drying, briquetting, or grinding installations – with a processing capacity of less than 30 tons of raw material per hour.

5) Quicklime production installations – with a daily output of less than 10 Mg.

6) Welding installations – comprising no more than 3 welding stations.

7) Animal farming or breeding installations – excluding installations classified as undertakings always capable of significantly impacting the environment, as specified in regulations issued under Article 60 of the Act of October 3, 2008, on providing information on the environment and its protection, public participation in environmental protection, and environmental impact assessments.

8) Coating installations – not subject to emission standards for installations, consuming less than one ton of coatings per year.

9) Bulk material tanks – with a capacity of less than 50 m3.

10) Fruit or vegetable processing installations – with a production capacity of less than 50 tons per year.

11) Fruit, vegetable, grain, or other agricultural or forestry product drying installations.

12) Fruit, vegetable, grain, or other agricultural or forestry product storage installations.

13) Food mills.

14) Installations used in gastronomy.

15) Charcoal production installations.

16) Liquid fuel transfer, transshipment, or storage installations.

17) Wastewater treatment installations.

18) Landfill gas discharge installations.

19) Non-sewered local sewage tanks.

20) Garages.

In these cases, there is a minor introduction of gases or dust into the atmosphere, which, at such concentrations, is not considered harmful or requiring special supervision.

REPORTING FOR INTRODUCTION OF GASES OR DUST INTO THE AIR

A list of installations that do not require a permit but require reporting can be found in the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of July 2, 2010, regarding the types of installations that require reporting.

ZGŁOSZENIE A POWIADOMIENIE URZĘDU – O CZYM NALEŻY PAMIĘTAĆ?

You must notify the office to which you reported the installation that:

• You are giving up starting the operation of the installation.
• You intend to end the operation of the installation.
• The data or information you provided in the report have changed.