The introduction of a model for both risk and environmental impact assessments to be used in planning the control check-ups of enterprises, installations and equipment working with permits and licenses issued under IPPC and SEVESO directives (complex permits and chemical accidents hazards) will lead to the optimization of the system for control concerning the frequency, recurrence and efficiency of the inspections conducted as well as to the reduction of the pollution of the components of environment.
Over 20 experts from RIEW Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria and commissioners from the Romanian National Environmental Guard reached this conclusion after participanting in a five-day partners work session in the framework of Strategic project „Joint Risk Monitoring during Emergencies in the Danube Area Border“, reference number № 2s-2.2-1, MIS-ETC Code: 166 financed by the European Regional development fund and the State budgets of Republic of Bulgaria and Republic of Romania under the Crossborder Cooperation Programme Romania-Bulgaria 2007-2013
RIEW Veliko Turnovo is a beneficiary in a strategic project in the field of environmental protection aiming at developing a joint infrastructure and services for prevention of chemical hazards and emergency situations, caused by human activity or nature disasters, including planning of joint actions in emergencies and accidents of environmental pollution.
The number of active enterprises presenting a risk of chemical hazard on the Bulgarian territory of the cross border region is 54. In west-east direction they are located in the following districts: Vidin, Montana. Vratsa, Pleven, Russe, Razgrad, Silistra and Dobrich.
The number of active enterprises presenting a risk of chemical hazard on the Romanian territory of the cross border region is 56. In west-east direction they are located in the following districts: Mehedinţi, Dolj, Teleorman, Giurgiu, Călăraşi and Constanza.
The chemical accidents hazard risk of these industries and their harmful to the population and living organisms impact necessitate prevention activities through increased control and monitoring as well as improvement of skills for dealing with and intervention in hazardous situations (chemical spills and other industrual accidents).
Answering the needs determined, the emphasis in the event was laid on the presentation of the following themes:
- Romanian tools for risk assessment
- Methodology for environmental inspection of equipment and industries and actions included in Addendum No1 of Government Emergency Ordinance no. 152/2005 on the integrated pollution prevention and control
- Guidelines related to organising inspections under SEVESO directive for chemical hazard risk installations and industries
- Procedure for Inspection of crossborder transfer of hazardous waste
- Good practice in risk prevention in environmental emergency situations, chemical spills and other environmental accidents
The Romanian commissioner Mr. Floran Guran presented two examples of risk assessment of active industries holding complex permits — heat power plant located in close proximity to the city centre at less than 100 m distance from a residential area and a farm situated in a suburban area at 500-1000 m from residential buildings. The pattern of the procedure applied includes different criteria, indicators and coefficients for assessment of the pollution of the components of the environment and harmful impact factors such as noise, bad smell, waste etc. The presented Romanian model for planning and reporting control inspections will be adapted to the needs of Bulgarian environmental practice and will be employed in Bulgarian inspectorate operations in the next year.
The joint procedures for control in the field of complex permits, chemicals and cross border transfer of hazardous waste will be published in a specifically designed for that purpose manual that will be presented and disseminated among environmental experts working in the Danube river cross border area. RIEW Veliko Turnovo is currently working on the preparation of a publication to present good practices from Bulgaria and Romania in the field of prevention of risk of environmental polluition. These good practices will promote the experience accumulated in applying both European and national legislation for fast response, elimination and minimising the harmful impact of chemical spills and other environmental incidents. They will also raise the work efficiency related to prevention, monitoring and control of such situations of the government officials in charge. The common efforts will lead to the prevention and reduction of pollution and harmful impact to the population and the environment.
Additional information:
Photos from the event are available to the media at request. For contacts: Ms Milka Asenova: public relations expert: 0889 929 946
For information about the project: Ms Kamelia Djanabetska, Project Manager: 0889 929 934
