Baseline Report

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The preparation of a Baseline Report is a complex multi-stage process which, in simple terms, includes the following steps:

  • Description of the industrial activities at the site
  • Presentation of any historical activities at the site
  • Quantification and assessment of relevant hazardous substances
  • Creation of the conceptual model
  • Procurement and evaluation of available information
  • Design of a measurement and investigation strategy
  • Proposal for future recurring monitoring
  • Continuous coordination with the competent authority
  • Presentation of all results in a detailed report on the initial status (Baseline Report)
What is the Purpose of the Baseline Report?
 
The operation of an installation may not deteriorate the quality of soil and groundwater.

The Baseline Report is a tool to achieve this goal.

The Baseline Report gives information about the current status of contamination of soil and groundwater on an industrial site, where the activity involves the use, production or release of relevant hazardous substances.

Upon site closure, i.e. the definitive cessation of activities, the operator evaluates the status of contamination of soil and groundwater with these relevant hazardous substances again. Subsequently, a comparison between the new results and the previous status of contamination that has been described in the Baseline Report is carried out.

In case that considerable contamination with relevant pollutants has been caused on the site by the operation of an installation, the competent authority takes the required measures to decontaminate the site.

The site is being returned to the state that has been documented in the Baseline Report.

Does the Baseline Report apply to my Company?
 
The Baseline Report applies to IPPC installations that use, produce, or release relevant hazardous substances.

IPPC installations are installations in which activities listed in Annex I of the European Industrial Emissions Directive (IED, Directive 2010/75/EU) are carried out, and which therefore are within the scope of Chapter II of this Directive.

A relevant hazardous substance is defined as a hazardous substance for which the threshold values for storage capacities and/or throughput capacities are exceeded on the site.

When do I have to provide a Baseline Report?
 

A Baseline Report has to be prepared and submitted to the competent authority in course of the permitting procedure of a new IPPC installation, as well as due to a change in the permit / the permitting conditions of an existing IPPC installation.

First Submission of a Baseline Report:

  • For new installations: Before starting operation.
  • For existing installations: Before a permit is updated for the first time after January 7th, 2013.

Update of the Baseline Report:

When renewing or updating the permit for an installation for which a Baseline Report has already been issued, it must be checked whether and to what extent the report needs to be updated. If the check shows that no update of the Baseline Report is necessary, the original Baselinie Report remains valid.

How long does it take to create a Baseline Report?
 
A period of one year or more should be considered for the initial preparation of a Baseline Report.

This is particularly the case if investigations of the soil and groundwater are to be carried out, as the natural fluctuations in hydrological conditions over the course of the year must be taken into account in the Baseline Report.

It is therefore recommended to start work on the Baseline Report well in advance of any foreseeable new plant approvals or amendments to permits.