• The operator has violated a condition of its complex permit by allowing odors to spread beyond the boundaries of the production site.

An administrative offence notice was issued today to Linamar Light Metals Ruse Ltd. This was announced at a briefing by the Director of RIEW - Ruse eng. Tsonka Hristova, whereby the control activity of the inspection in September was presented.

More than 60 signals from Ruse were received in the early hours of this morning. An immediate inspection was carried out with representatives of the company, whereby it was found that the operator had violated a condition of its complex permit by allowing odours to spread beyond the boundaries of the production site. For this violation, the Environmental Protection Act prescribes a penalty of 10 000 to 500 000 BGN. The Environmental Inspectorate will refer Linamar Light Metals Ruse Ltd. to the prosecutor’s office and will strictly monitor the implementation of the prescriptions for operation of the installations only during daylight hours.

A mobile station of the Executive Environmental Agency (EEA) continues the unplanned measurements of air quality in Ruse. Instantaneous data from the station from today show no excess quantities outside the ceilings for benzene, toluene, and xylene. The data submitted by the municipal stations today also show no air pollution.

Eng. Hristova reported that since 4th September the Inspectorate has received more than 600 reports about odours.  “We carried out two-weekly unplanned inspections conducted from 8.30 pm to 12.30 am in reaction to reports for odours, starting from the Eastern Industrial Zone. In many cases, there is no smell there, but the city can smell of chemicals, foundry, and oils,” confirmed eng. Hristova. She stressed that there is no legislation on odours, but they help experts look for the source.

Violation notices for the spread of odours can be issued to operators with complex permits, as was the case today. Similar acts were drawn up on Orgachim Resins Plc. last year. Other companies whose activities may give off odours have been sent letters of instruction not to spread odours. These companies can only be penalized for non-compliance with a prescription.

Planned and unscheduled odour controls will continue.