Recently, EPL representatives visited the Ministry of Environment of the Czech Republic where they learned about Czech experience of implementing IPPC/EID Directive that began in 2002 with the adoption of a separate law on integrated pollution prevention and control that entered into force in 2007. The procedure of issuance of an integrated environmental permit in the Czech Republic is a separate permit procedure along with the construction permit and EIA. An integrated environmental permit can be obtained after the conclusion of environmental impact assessment and before the construction permit. Since the Czech Republic is a highly industrialized country, more than 1,500 integrated environmental permits (hereinafter IEP) have already been issued.
Ukraine is about to adopt the draft law No. 6004-d on integrated environmental permit. We really hope that the Ministry of Environment of Ukraine and environmentally conscious business are ready to rely on the best experience of the Czech Republic in this field. The sooner the Verkhovna Rada votes on the draft law, the more time we will have to adapt the industry to BATs (the best available techniques) and the sooner Ukraine will be able to report to the EU on implementation of the important environmental Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions. Of course, introduction of an integrated environmental permit will also mean a positive effect for the nature.
The experience of the Czech Republic, where the reform of IPPC was implemented for a long time, today it is extremely useful and indicative for Ukraine.
It should be noted that the Czech Republic has a lot in common with Ukraine in terms of issuing a permit. For example, in both countries the issued permit is the result of a dialogue between the operator, state authorities and the public, the IEP issuance process is transparent: access to information is provided through the publication of the operator’s statement and the permit itself, the permit issuance procedure includes consultations with interested authorities and public discussion, both in Ukraine, and in the Czech Republic, the relevant ministry is the permitting authority in the procedure of issuing an IEP.
However, there are also differences: the duration of the permit issuance period is different. In the Czech Republic it can last from 117 to 185 days while in Ukraine, the duration of issuing a permit is up to 123 days. It is also interesting that in the Czech Republic, CEHIA (Czech Environmental Information Agency) participates in the IEP issuance procedure, which provides expert technical support to permitting authorities, as well as issues conclusions on the application of BATs (best available techniques) on a free basis. Regional bodies in the Czech Republic issue the IEP while in Ukraine the IEP is issued by the Ministry of Environment.
