13 juni 2016 © 2008, VITO NV – alle rechten voorbehouden Assessment of use of general binding rules for implementation of IPPC Directive General binding rules in refineries sector Polders Caroline Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) Workshop for refineries sector Brussels, 4 July 2008

23 juni 2016 © 2008, VITO NV – alle rechten voorbehouden Definition of general binding rules (GBRs) “Limit values or other conditions at sector level or wider, that are given with intention to be used directly to set permit conditions” “Provide direct conditions or minimum standards” “Are binding either to authority or to operator” “However, under certain conditions, some general rules may not be mandatory and deviation will be allowed, although normal expectation would be that rules be used directly”  Working definition ≠ Legal definition

33 juni 2016 © 2008, VITO NV – alle rechten voorbehouden Objectives of project To gather information on and to draw up general overview of use of GBRs for implementation of IPPC Directive  information for each IPPC sector (incl. refineries sector) per MS = country profiles To gain understanding of way GBRs have been determined and are used To assess use of GBRs against obligations laid down in IPPC Directive  15 case studies (incl. 2 for refineries sector)

43 juni 2016 © 2008, VITO NV – alle rechten voorbehouden Conclusions country profiles - general Use of GBRs: Use of GBRs (ELVs) is reported by 16 MS 7 MS use GBRs only for implementation of European sector Directives IPPC Directive has not been driver to establish GBRs Main reasons for using GBRs: Lower administrative burden for authorities and operators Bring greater regulatory transparency GBRs are considered to limit flexibility of authorities

53 juni 2016 © 2008, VITO NV – alle rechten voorbehouden Conclusions country profiles - general Content of GBRs: GBRs are mainly ELVs and monitoring requirements In 1/2 MS operational measures and technology/measurement descriptions are also provided Only in some MS, existing BAT knowledge is used to determine GBRs Publication of BREFs is no driver for revision of GBRs 2/3 MS (that use GBRs) have no procedure for revision of GBRs

63 juni 2016 © 2008, VITO NV – alle rechten voorbehouden Conclusions country profiles - refineries sector 11 MS make use of GBRs in form of ELVs: air: AT, BE, F, G, GR, HU, NL, P, SK, SL water: AT, BE, ES, F, G, GR, HU, P, SK, SL 11 MS make use of GBRs for other means (noise, odour,…): AT, BE, BU, F, G, GR, HU, NL, P, SK, SL General conclusions also apply for refinery GBRs

73 juni 2016 © 2008, VITO NV – alle rechten voorbehouden Objectives of project To gather information on and to draw up general overview of use of GBRs for implementation of IPPC Directive  information for each IPPC sector (incl. refineries sector) per MS = country profiles To gain understanding of way GBRs have been determined and are used To assess use of GBRs against obligations laid down in IPPC Directive  15 case studies (incl. 2 for refineries sector)

83 juni 2016 © 2008, VITO NV – alle rechten voorbehouden Overview 15 case studies 1.Intensive livestock farming– UK 2.Intensive livestock farming– Netherlands 3.Intensive livestock farming– Portugal 4.Intensive livestock farming–France 5.Pulp and paper – France 6.Pulp –Germany 7.Pulp and paper– Belgium / Walloon Region 8.Foundries – Slovenia 9.Foundries – Austria 10.Non-ferrous metals–Germany 11.Refineries– Netherlands 12.Refineries– Belgium/Flanders 13.Slaughterhouses– Hungary 14.Slaughterhouses– Spain 15.Slaughterhouses– Slovakia

93 juni 2016 © 2008, VITO NV – alle rechten voorbehouden Refineries - Netherlands Legal status: IPPC-permit: In general no use of GBRs NeR is guidance document for emissions to air and has same legal status as BREF % of environmental permits have conditions directly copied into History: Pre-IPPC (1992) Integrated approach: No, NeR only covers emissions to air BAT compliance: Yes, BREF guidance notes are included in NeR Possibility to deviate: Yes, in less strict and stricter sense Review of GBRs: Large review in 2002 Yearly, parts of NER are reviewed (based on e.g. BREF) Impact of review of GBRs on environmental permit: No direct effect, as NeR is only guidance document

103 juni 2016 © 2008, VITO NV – alle rechten voorbehouden Refineries - Belgium/Flanders Legal status: IPPC-permit: Mature system of using GBRs (VLAREM II) VLAREM II prescribes general and sectoral environmental conditions for activities assigned by VLAREM I (Appendix 1) History: Pre-IPPC (1995) Integrated approach: Yes BAT compliance: Not always, e.g. water related ELVs Possibility to deviate: In less strict sense, only possible if explicitly foreseen in VLAREM II In stricter sense, always possible Related to local issues

113 juni 2016 © 2008, VITO NV – alle rechten voorbehouden Refineries - Belgium/Flanders Review of GBRs: Based on information from EU (BREFs / EU legislation) and information from regional policy supporting documents (e.g. Flemish BAT documents) Extensive review procedure Impact of review of GBRs on environmental permit: Direct effect, as environmental permit only contains references to GBRs (VLAREM II)

123 juni 2016 © 2008, VITO NV – alle rechten voorbehouden More information needed ? Final report available on Circa GBR website will be part of IRIS (Industrial Reporting Information System) website  Search tool to consult database on use of GBRs in EU  15 case studies Contact: Karl Vrancken: Peter Stouthuysen: