The Service has carefully evaluated the information provided by SIA “EcoLead” about the planned polluting activity, which envisages the establishment of a spent lead battery recycling plant, the measures planned by the company to limit pollution, as well as the received proposals and objections.
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The company has set strict conditions for the planned activity, reduction of operational impacts, as well as monitoring measures and availability of monitoring data to the public.
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The permit is issued for the recycling of spent lead batteries – up to 15,000 tons per year, producing up to 8,700 tons of lead and lead alloys per year. Any recycling of batteries other than lead-acid batteries is prohibited at the factory.
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The company has submitted financial security to the SES. The sum insured is 100,000 euros, which in accordance with the regulatory framework can be used if the company in its activities significantly violates the conditions of waste management set out in the SES permit.
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The permit conditions also include proposals received from members of the public, state institutions and local governments.
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In total, 56 public representatives ‘opinions were received during the public consultation, as well as 95 public representatives’ questions, proposals and opinions on the issuance of the permit and its conditions during the information meeting.
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The SES acknowledged that several proposals of Jelgava municipality were substantiated, which were set as conditions in the permit. The company must carry out periodic air quality control in the Kalnciems residential area, enabling the public to regularly monitor air quality indicators.
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In addition, information on air quality monitoring data, in particular lead concentrations in the air, should be provided on a quarterly or four-yearly basis. The company must publish the monitoring data and their evaluation on its website, as well as send it to Jelgava County Council and Jurmala City Council and submit it to the SES.
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The SES determined that the company needs to develop an industrial accident prevention program, the plant can be started only after receiving approval that the industrial accident prevention program has been developed in accordance with regulatory enactments and the facility can be operated without additional conditions, observing the industrial accident prevention program. measures.
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The permit also specifies action equipment for operation in atypical conditions. For example, environmental monitoring requirements need to be implemented to address potential adverse effects in a timely manner.
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In the permit issued by the SES, it has specified requirements for air quality, soil, ground, as well as surface and groundwater quality monitoring, which must be performed in an accredited laboratory.
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For air quality monitoring, the SES has instructed in the permit to perform certain air quality monitoring measures during the adjustment period of the plant equipment.
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Prior to the start of operation of the plant, the company must establish a groundwater monitoring network by installing groundwater quality monitoring wells around the rainwater storage tank from the territory and the roofs of buildings, taking into account the direction of groundwater flow.
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Once in operation, the company must monitor the groundwater (groundwater) quality once a year in the groundwater monitoring wells installed in the plant territory.
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To monitor surface water quality, the company must monitor the quality of groundwater sediment and surface water quality in Lielupe and quarry ponds in Kalnciems once a year, both before and after the plant starts operating, determining copper, lead, zinc, nickel, cadmium, chromium and mercury concentrations.
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Once a year, the company must carry out soil quality monitoring in accordance with the conditions of the permit and in accordance with the requirements of the applicable regulatory enactments regarding soil and soil quality standards.
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Also, after the start of operations, the company will have to perform detailed records of incoming, managed and outgoing waste streams on a daily basis, as well as monitoring the quality of wastewater on average every two months.
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In order to assess the impact of the possible harmful pollution factor on the health of Kalnciems residents, a Biomonitoring program for residents must be developed, which must be coordinated with the Kalnciems family doctor before the factory starts operating, but not later than 1 December this year.
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In addition, the SES has carried out surveillance inspections both before the start of operation of the plant and during the adjustment process of the equipment, as well as will assess the compliance with the issued technical regulations and the operation regulations, as well as other pre-commissioning conditions.
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As reported, the spent lead battery recycling plant in Kalnciems plans to start operating in the first quarter of next year, investing 8 to 9 million euros in its establishment. The residents of Kalnciems sharply opposed it, addressing several institutions and pointing out possible irregularities in the process of coordinating the establishment of the factory.
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