In some cases, the operation of an installation that causes the emission of pollutants into the environment is permitted only after obtaining an integrated permit. What documents must an entrepreneur prepare so that an application for an integrated permit is considered by the competent authority?
Integrated Permit – What is it? Benefits and Potential Threats
An integrated permit is a document that specifies the scope and principles of using the environment by a given business entity. An entrepreneur who intends to operate an installation classified as to the group of projects that may significantly pollute individual natural elements or the environment as a whole.
An integrated permit must be obtained for installations that are not subject to it. As the name suggests, an integrated permit combines most of the possible types of impact of a given installation on the environment and often replaces partial decisions (otherwise known as sectoral decisions) in the field of environmental protection, such as:
- permission to release gases or dust into the air (i.e. decisions regarding the emission of gases and dust into the air),
- water law permit for discharging sewage into water or ground,
- water law permit for water collection,
- permit for waste production, processing and collection.
If an entity also has installations subject to sectoral decisions but not subject to an integrated permit, in most cases when applying for an integrated permit it can "link" them to the integrated permit. In such a case, this should be appropriately included in the documentation constituting the application for an integrated permit.
This has both positive and negative dimensions. On the one hand exempts you from having to submit multiple applications and applying for many different environmental decisions. On the other hand, however, it is associated with a greater degree of uncertainty as to the course and duration of the administrative procedure and with the requirement to provide a wider range of materials (both information and documents). The administrative procedure for applying for an integrated permit is considered to be one of the most complicated modes among the administrative procedures in the field of environmental protection in the Polish legal system. In addition to the elements that regulate partial permits, it also includes a description of noise emissions or the best available techniques (BAT conclusions).
Documentation for an integrated permit – attachments that the entrepreneur must include in the application
In order to obtain an integrated permit, the entrepreneur must submit an appropriate application to the relevant public administration body. The document must firstly be prepared reliably, and secondly, all documents must be attached to it. required attachments. Otherwise, it may be rejected. As a result, the entrepreneur will have to suspend the operation of the installation.
As a result, one of the unpleasant effects:
- in the event of an integrated permit that is inadequate to the actual operating conditions of the installation, it may be necessary to suspend the operation of the installation,
- lack of an integrated permit for which the entity is applying for the first time, the entity may not be able to start operating this installation due to the lack of a permit.
The application for an integrated permit must be accompanied by, among others:
- a document confirming that the applicant may participate in legal transactions if he or she is not a natural person, e.g. a current extract from the National Court Register,
- a summary of the application written in non-technical language,
- saving the application in electronic form on computer data carriers,
- a copy of the accident prevention programme (Article 251 of the Environmental Protection Act) or a copy of the safety report (Article 253 of the Environmental Protection Act), if prepared,
- proof of payment of stamp duty,
- proof of payment of the registration fee.
Sometimes an entrepreneur applying for an integrated permit must attach to the application initial report. This is necessary if the operation of the installation involves the use, production or release of substances that pose a risk and there is a real possibility of contamination of the soil, earth or groundwater on the site of the facility.
In addition, if the application for an integrated permit contains information on the need to create a limited use area, it must be attached to it a copy of the cadastral map, which will mark the course of the boundaries of the designated zone. Importantly, the document must be certified by the appropriate authority.
The application for an integrated permit must be complete. If it does not contain the required documentation, it may not be considered by the relevant public administration body. If you want the document to be properly completed and contain all the necessary attachments, you can commission its preparation to us. Our specialists will prepare a study that will help you apply for an integrated permit.
