Documentation for obtaining A, B, and C category permits
Environmental pollution and the use of natural resources are characteristic of almost any human economic activity. However, since the scale of operations—and consequently the pollution and resource consumption—of businesses is significantly greater than that of individuals, commercial operators are required to obtain a permit for polluting activities.
What type of permit is required – A, B, or C category?
When commencing production, a company must obtain an A, B, or C category permit for polluting activities from the State Environmental Service. In the event of significant changes — such as increasing production capacity, altering emission sources, or changing the type of fuel used — the permit must be reviewed and amended accordingly.
The category of the permit for polluting activities (A or B permit, or C certificate) depends on the type and capacity of the planned activity. Legislation defines which activities fall under A, B, or C category polluting activities.
A permit for polluting activities is issued for a specific site. Therefore, an operator conducting activities at multiple locations must obtain a separate permit for each site.
If a company’s operations fall under multiple categories — A, B, and C — the lower-category activities are included within the higher-category permit. Category A is the highest, while Category C is the lowest.
How to Obtain an A, B, or C Category Permit for Polluting Activities?
To obtain a permit for polluting activities, a comprehensive application with annexes must be prepared and submitted through the State Environmental Service’s electronic system TULPE — either for the issuance of an A, B, or C category permit, or for making amendments to an existing permit.
The same application form is used both for obtaining a new A, B, or C category permit for polluting activities and for submitting amendments to an existing permit. All sections of the form must be completed.
The application must include a description of the planned activity, including:
- An estimate of the expected pollution caused by the activity in air, water, and soil.
- Information must be provided on the generation and management of waste and wastewater.
- Use of resources (water, raw materials).
It should be noted that the A, B, or C category permit for polluting activities is the final stage in the environmental permitting process. Therefore, if applicable to the specific activity, technical specifications, an initial environmental impact assessment, a full environmental impact assessment, a civil protection plan, and/or a public consultation must be completed beforehand.
Throughout the several-month-long process, someone must continuously represent the company’s interests before the State Environmental Service.
Therefore, obtaining a permit for polluting activities is a time- and resource-intensive process that also requires appropriate expertise — and, in many cases, specific software and the skills to use it effectively.
