Public hearing of the draft “anti-smog resolution” for Krakow

The public consultation on the draft resolution of the Malopolska Regional Assembly concerning the introduction of restrictions for the operation of fuel combustion installations included a public hearing held on Friday, 27 November on this project.

Each participant of the meeting was given the opportunity to speak and express their opinions, comments or motions to the draft resolution. Nearly 30 people spoke.

The public consultation of the draft resolution lasts until 8 December 2015 and the content of the document can be found on the website: www.malopolska.pl/antysmogowa.

By 8 December 2015, a public consultation on the draft resolution of the Malopolska Regional Assembly is being held on the introduction of restrictions concerning the operation of fuel combustion installations in the municipality of Krakow.

The document is available on the Public Information Bulletin of the Marshal Office of the Malopolska Region, at www.malopolska.pl/antysmogowa. Comments and motions to the draft resolution can be submitted electronically to the following e-mail address: powietrze@umwm.pl or in writing to the following address: Marshal Office of the Malopolska Region, Environment Department, 30-017 Krakow, 56 Racławicka.

In addition, on 27 November 2015 at 6:00 pm in the Congress Center of the University of Agriculture, 29 Listopada Avenue 46 in Krakow, there will be a public hearing on the draft resolution.

The draft of the new resolution was adopted by the Management Board of the Malopolska Region on November 12, 2015 simultaneously with the entry into force of the amendment of the Environmental Protection Law which extended the scope of the legal basis for the adoption of this resolution. According to the new wording of Art. 96 of the Act, the Malopolska Regional Assembly can, by way of a resolution, in order to prevent negative effects on human health or the environment, introduce restrictions or prohibitions concerning the operation of installations in which fuel combustion takes place.

The draft resolution subject to official consultations takes into account the remarks of the majority of the inhabitants involved in the initial consultations concerning the assumptions of the resolution. The vast majority of people voted in favor of introducing a complete ban on solid fuels in Krakow for heating individual buildings.

TVP Krakow  prepared another series of episodes entitled “Malopolska in a healthy atmosphere” commissioned by the Marshal Office of the Malopolska Region. This is a continuation of the broadcast program aimed at promoting actions taken by self-government units to reduce air pollution in the Malopolska Region.

You are invited to watch!

Małopolska in healthy atmosphere- part 4 (ep. concerning transport emissions)

Małopolska in healthy atmosphere- part 5(ep. concerning thermo-modernization)

Małopolska in healthy atmosphere- part 5(ep. concerning low emissions  )

The program was funded by the Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Cracow.

The amendment of the Environmental Protection Law adopted on 10 September 2015 makes it possible to introduce restrictions not only on the types of fuels allowed but also on emission requirements from heating installations. On this basis, the assumptions of the new resolution of the Malopolska Region Sejmik have been prepared, which will introduce in the area of Krakow restrictions on the operation of installations in which fuel combustion takes place.

The proposed resolution provides for the use of only gas fuels, light fuel oil and biomass only in boilers and furnaces (e.g. furnaces, fireplaces, goats). The use of biomass will only be possible in installations that meet the particulate matter emission requirements at the level:

• 40 mg/m³ for boilers with automatic fuel supply,
• 50 mg/m³ for local room heaters with open combustion chamber,
• 40 mg/m³ for local room heaters with closed combustion chamber using biomass other than pressed wood in the form of pellets,
• 20 mg/m³ for local room heaters with closed combustion chamber using pelletized wood.

The indicated emission level corresponds to the requirements of EU Commission Regulations implementing the Ecodesign Directive and will apply throughout the European Union for solid fuel boilers placed on the market and usable from 2020 and local solid fuel boilers marketed and used from 2022.

At the same time, the use of hand-fed boilers and those with emergency grids will also be banned, as well as multi-fuel installations that will not meet the emissions requirements for all fuels approved for use.

The new regulations will be effective from September 1, 2018.

Discussion concerning the draft version of the resolution was addressed to the general public. By October 31, 2015, anyone can submit their comments and requests to the following e-mail address: powietrze@umwm.pl or in writing to: Environment Department, Marshal’s Office of the Malopolska Region, 56 Racławicka, 31-534 Krakow.

Assumptions of the new “anti-smog resolution” for Krakow

Malopolska Region on behalf of all 45 partners submitted to the European Commission a full proposal for LIFE Integrated Project. Preparation of the proposal was possible thanks to the commitment and support of all partners who were actively involved at every stage providing the necessary information.

The total value of the project is 16.8 million euro and the requested funding from the LIFE Programme is 9.9 million euro. In addition funding from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management is planned of 4.8 million euro and from the Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Krakow of 0.9 million euro.

According to the expected schedule, assessment of the application by the European Commission experts will last until August. In the case of a positive decision to co-finance the project, its implementation will begin in October 2015 and will last eight years – until December 2023.

The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management declared co-financing implementation of the LIFE Integrated Project in Malopolska of 4.8 million Euro. Confirmation of the grant is conditional on European Commission’s decision to grant project from the LIFE Programme.

Also the Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Krakow declared co-financing of project of 896,000 Euro.

Full proposal for LIFE IP will be submitted to the European Commission to 17th of April 2015. The final decision to grant funding for the project will not be known until September 2015.

In the the unique scenery of the historic train station in Rabka-Zdroj, partners signed an agreement jointly applying for LIFE Integrated Project aimed at improving air quality in Malopolska. In the ceremony took part Wojciech Kozak, Deputy Marshal of the Malopolska Region, mayors and representatives of all 38 municipalities participating in the project, Polish National Energy Conservation Agency, Energy Savings Company ESCO and Krakow Smog Alert Association. The agreement was also signed by representatives of institutions supporting the implementation of the project: President of the Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Krakow and Regional Inspector of Environmental Protection.

Agreement of LIFE Integrated Project partners (in Polish)

LIFE Integrated Project for Malopolska (in Polish)

Polish Minister of Environment Maciej Grabowski presented in Krakow objectives of the National Air Quality Plan – a strategic document at the government level to solve the problem of air pollution.
Marshal of the Malopolska Region Marek Sowa presented possibility of co-financing actions from Regional Operational Programme of the Malopolska Region 2014-2020, which allocated with a total of 420 million euros to emission reduction.
Already implemented actions in reducing emissions summed up Wojciech Kozak, Deputy Marshal of the Malopolska Region, who also emphasized the importance of planned implementation of LIFE Integrated Project in Małopolska.
Invited representatives of authorities and organisations signed the “Agreement for clean air” declaring their willingness to cooperate to improve air quality in Poland.

Małopolska Region on behalf of 44 co-beneficiaries formally request the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management for co-funding LIFE Integrated Project for Małopolska in amount of about 5 million euro (30% of eligible costs).

Submitting full proposal to the European Commission for funding 60% of project costs from LIFE financial instrument is planned by 17th of April.

On 11th of February at Marshal’s Office was held a conference presenting concept of LIFE Integrated Project for Malopolska. The conference had a scientific debate with the participation of representatives of Krakow universities: Jagiellonian University, the University of Agriculture, Cracow University of Technology and the University of Science and Technology, as well as international guests: representatives of Ministry of Environment of the Czech Republic, Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute and VITO NV from Belgium – the largest research organization in Belgium in field of air quality.

The meeting was attended by Wojciech Kozak – Deputy Marshal of the Malopolska Region, who listened to the comments and proposals and received numerous compliments from the scientific community for taking important effort to improve air quality in Malopolska.

Concept of LIFE IP for Malopolska Region (in Polish)