BG

Analyses and Assessments

In many cases, before a project can be implemented in practice, preliminary analyses or assessments of its potential environmental impact are required. Such analyses often also need to be carried out during the operation of installations and facilities, manufacturing plants, commercial sites and others.

Environmental reports

In order to prevent possible negative consequences of an investment proposal, it is necessary to assess what effect its implementation is expected to have on the environment and, on this basis, to decide whether the project is permissible. The Strategic Environmental Assessment of plans and programmes and the Appropriate Assessment of compatibility with the subject and conservation objectives of protected sites (the so-called Natura 2000 sites) serve a similar purpose. Our team prepares the necessary notifications, requests and assessment reports.

  • Preparation of notifications for investment proposals, together with the accompanying information;
  • Preparation of requests for screening of the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), together with the accompanying information;
  • Preparation of EIA reports for investment proposals;
  • Preparation of notifications for plans/programmes, together with the accompanying information;
  • Preparation of SEA reports for plans and programmes;
  • Preparation of Appropriate Assessment (AA) reports on the compatibility of plans, programmes, projects and investment proposals with the subject and conservation objectives of protected sites;
  • Preparation of information for entry in the public register of operators carrying out activities under Annex 1 to Art. 3, item 1 of the Environmental Liability Act (Act on Liability for the Prevention and Remedying of Environmental Damage);
  • Preparation of assessments of possible cases of imminent threat of environmental damage and of cases of environmental damage caused.

Environmental monitoring

One of the tools for controlling and tracking the impact of an activity on the environment is monitoring aimed at controlling emissions of pollutants to air, water or soil, noise and vibration from the activity, etc. Monitoring data make it possible to adjust the way the activity is carried out in order to achieve the permissible statutory levels for each of the parameters studied. We can assist with the preparation of the various plans, reports and statements on the conduct and results of monitoring.

  • Preparation of biological monitoring plans. Conduct of biological monitoring; Field surveys of plant and animal species and habitats for mapping or study purposes;
  • Preparation of landfill control and monitoring plans;
  • Preparation of applications for initiating a procedure for the issuance, amendment and/or extension of a permit under the Water Act;
  • Preparation of reports on compliance with the conditions of a permit under the Water Act;
  • Preparation of self-monitoring plans for environmental components (air, water, soil, noise and vibration);
  • Preparation of reports on activities carried out under the self-monitoring plans for environmental components;
  • Preparation of reports on periodic self-monitoring measurements and continuous emission measurements of harmful substances released into ambient air from sites with stationary sources;
  • Preparation of applications under Art. 9g(4) of the Clean Ambient Air Act for registration of medium combustion plants or for entry of a change in circumstances under Art. 9g(13) of the Clean Ambient Air Act in the register under Art. 9g(2) of the same Act;
  • Monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs):
    • preparation of applications under Art. 30l of the Clean Ambient Air Act for registration of installations carrying out activities under Annex 1 to Ordinance No. 7 on emission limit values for volatile organic compounds released into the environment, mainly into ambient air, due to the use of organic solvents in certain installations, irrespective of solvent consumption;
    • preparation of solvent management plans for installations exceeding their applicable lower solvent consumption thresholds, and for dry-cleaning activities; information (declaration) on solvent consumption and the quantity of solvents input in the previous year for installations not exceeding their applicable lower solvent consumption thresholds;
    • information on coating products containing VOCs placed on the market for the first time in the Republic of Bulgaria;
    • information on coating products used that do not comply with the maximum permissible limits;
    • applications for a permit for the use of VOCs under Art. 28a(2) of Ordinance No. 7;
  • Annual report on fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances by operators of installations, processors and users of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) and ozone-depleting substances (ODS);
  • Modelling of the dispersion of pollutants in ambient air and in water.

Industry

To prevent industrial pollution, measures are laid down that must be observed in the operation of the relevant facility or installation. These measures are set out in the so-called integrated (IPPC) permit. Compliance with its conditions ensures that the negative environmental footprint of the activity is minimised. In addition to the risk of pollution, some industrial enterprises pose a risk of accidents involving dangerous chemical substances. To prevent such accidents, the Seveso Directive applies, transposed into the Environmental Protection Act and the Ordinance on the Prevention of Major Accidents Involving Dangerous Substances and the Limitation of Their Consequences. Our services for companies engaged in industrial activities are:

  • Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC)
    • preparation of applications for the issuance of integrated permits;
    • preparation of annual reports on compliance with the conditions of the integrated permit;
    • assessment under Art. 99a of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) of the application of Best Available Techniques (BAT);
    • reporting of data on releases and transfers of pollutants under Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 in the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) reporting system.
  • SEVESO (Prevention of major accidents involving dangerous chemical substances)
    • preparation of classification reports for an establishment/installation;
    • preparation of notifications of the classification of an establishment and/or installation as lower-tier or upper-tier;
    • preparation of Major Accident Prevention Policy (MAPP) reports, including a Safety Management System (SMS);
    • preparation of major accident risk assessments and assessments of the limitation of consequences for human health and the environment;
    • preparation of safety reports;
    • preparation of applications for approval of a safety report or an updated safety report for an upper-tier establishment and/or installation;
    • preparation of internal emergency plans.
  • Greenhouse gases
    • preparation of applications for the issuance of greenhouse gas emissions permits;
    • preparation of monitoring plans for annual emissions and tonne-kilometre data in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) No 601/2012;
    • preparation of greenhouse gas emission reports for installation operators and emission and tonne-kilometre data reports for aircraft operators.
  • EU Ecolabel
    • preparation of applications for initiating the procedure for awarding the EU Ecolabel;
    • preparation of information under Art. 9(3) of Regulation (EC) No 66/2010; advice on the documentation required under the relevant Commission decision establishing the EU Ecolabel criteria for the product group concerned.

Chemical substances and mixtures

Working with chemical substances and mixtures creates a risk of incidents and accidents. To prevent them and ensure the safety of workers, a number of requirements must be met concerning proper labelling, storage and handling of chemical substances and mixtures and the treatment of waste generated from their use. For these activities, we assist our clients with all the necessary documents and procedures:

  • Preparation of inventories of chemical substances and mixtures demonstrating compliance with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH);
  • Carrying out and documenting safety assessments of the storage of hazardous chemical substances and mixtures;
  • Development of instructions for the safe storage of hazardous chemical substances and mixtures in accordance with the available information on their hazardous properties;
  • Development of instructions or guidance for the safe handling of hazardous substances;
  • Development of instructions for internal control of compliance with the instructions for the safe storage of hazardous chemical substances and mixtures;
  • Development of instructions and training programmes for persons responsible for the storage of hazardous chemical substances and mixtures on measures to control the risks associated with their storage;
  • Development of instructions for the disposal of hazardous chemical waste resulting from spills and leaks, and of soil, absorbents and other materials contaminated with hazardous chemical waste, in accordance with waste management legislation;
  • Preparation of Safety Data Sheets and labels in accordance with the legal requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH), Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) and Regulation (EU) 2015/830;
  • Preparation of information under Art. 21c(1) of the Act on Protection against the Harmful Effects of Chemical Substances and Mixtures, to be submitted to the Toxicology Clinic of the “N. I. Pirogov” University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment and Emergency Medicine by importers and downstream users placing on the market mixtures classified as hazardous on the basis of their health or physical effects under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP).