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Permissible emission standards are determined in accordance with the Environmental Code and the Methodology for Determining Environmental Emission Standards approved by Order No. 63 of the Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 10 March 2021.

In environmental design, permissible emission standards are measured in g/s (grams per second, the maximum one-time value) to assess the instantaneous load on ambient air and in t/year (tonnes per year, the gross value) to calculate the enterprise’s total annual emissions.

A draft permissible emission standard is developed using an inventory of pollutant emissions into ambient air from existing economic and other facilities.

Emission sources are inventoried using either calculation or instrumental methods.

When the calculation method is used, permissible emissions are calculated in accordance with current regulatory and methodological documents approved by the authorised environmental protection body of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Full calculations are provided separately for every source and substance, together with comments substantiating the values and coefficients used.

When the instrumental method is used, permissible emissions are calculated from instrumental concentration measurements for every source and substance. The records specify sampling locations and duration, concentration determination methods and measuring equipment.

Existing environmental pollution is taken into account when standards are set. Background concentrations of environmental quality parameters are supplied by Kazhydromet RSE. The provision of background concentration data is technologically related to environmental monitoring.

The validity period of established permissible emission standards is determined by the validity period of the environmental impact permit or integrated environmental permit.

Permissible discharge standards are determined in accordance with the Environmental Code and the Methodology for Determining Environmental Emission Standards approved by Order No. 63 of the Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 10 March 2021.

Permissible discharge standards for pollutants in wastewater released into natural or artificial water bodies, terrain or subsoil are calculated for each wastewater outlet. An operator’s standards are established as the aggregate permissible discharges for individual existing, planned and reconstructed pollution sources.

Development and calculation begin by identifying discharge sources. The initial stage determines how wastewater is removed from the enterprise, whether storm sewers and treatment facilities exist, and where domestic wastewater is discharged. Water-protection restrictions applicable at the site are then identified.

The standards are set at levels that ensure compliance with the relevant environmental water-quality standards at the control section, taking account of baseline anthropogenic background concentrations of pollutants in water.

The validity period of established permissible discharge standards is determined by the validity period of the environmental impact permit or integrated environmental permit.

A waste management programme is a set of measures for collecting, sorting, temporarily storing, transporting, processing and safely disposing of waste. It is intended to reduce adverse environmental impacts, use resources efficiently and comply with environmental requirements.

The programme establishes waste accumulation and disposal limits defining permissible amounts of waste generation, temporary accumulation and subsequent placement at the relevant facilities.

Accumulation and disposal limits protect the environment and human life and health, reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and encourage preparation for reuse, processing and recovery.

Accumulation limits are established for each waste accumulation site forming part of Category I and II facilities as the maximum mass of each type of waste permitted to be stored there. Waste may be accumulated only at designated facilities equipped in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan, including sites, warehouses, storage facilities and containers.

Disposal limits are established for each landfill forming part of Category I and II facilities as the maximum mass of each type of waste permitted for disposal there. A disposal limit is set for each calendar year according to the operating capacity of the relevant landfill.

An industrial environmental control programme is a document defining the procedure for industrial environmental control and environmental monitoring.

In practical terms, it answers three questions: what the enterprise controls, how and when it performs control, and how the results are recorded.

The programme includes:

• facilities and sources of adverse impact, including emissions, discharges and waste;
• a list of controlled indicators;
• control frequency and methods;
• sampling points and measurement locations;
• procedures for accounting for and controlling emissions, discharges, waste generation and disposal;
• information on laboratory testing and industrial environmental monitoring;
• responsible persons and record-keeping procedures;
• procedures for documenting control results and submitting environmental reports.

The programme is developed for a planning period linked to the validity period of the environmental permit, but for no more than ten years.

Assessment stages: Statement of Intended Activity → Screening → Report on Possible Impacts or Environmental Protection Section.

A Statement of Intended Activity is submitted by the project initiator to the authorised environmental body when the planned activity is subject to mandatory environmental impact assessment or screening. It informs the state and the public what the initiator plans to construct, expand or operate and what potential environmental impact may result. The authority uses this initial information to understand the project and determine whether further environmental assessment is required.

Screening of the impacts of a planned activity determines whether a full environmental impact assessment is required for the project.

A Report on Possible Impacts briefly describes how the planned activity may affect the environment, human health and socio-economic conditions. It considers possible adverse and beneficial consequences, their scale and mitigation measures.

An Environmental Protection Section is the part of the design documentation devoted to measures that prevent and reduce adverse human impact on the environment.

We help enterprises obtain environmental permits in accordance with the environmental legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

We determine the required permit type, prepare the documentation, and support the approval procedure and submission to the authorised state body.

An environmental permit is mandatory for the construction and operation of certain Category I and II facilities. Kazakhstan provides for two principal types: an environmental impact permit and an integrated environmental permit.

An environmental impact permit is required, in particular, for the construction and operation of Category II facilities and, where provided by law, Category I facilities.

An integrated environmental permit is an environmental regulation instrument that establishes operating conditions with reference to best available techniques (BAT).

During the permitting process, we will:

• prepare the required design and environmental documentation;
• compare the technologies used against BAT;
• submit documents through the information systems provided by law;
• support consideration of the application;
• address comments and requests from state bodies until a result is obtained.

An environmental audit checks an organisation’s compliance with environmental requirements and assesses the environmental impact of its operations.

In practical terms, it is an environmental review of the enterprise.

The audit examines:

• atmospheric emissions;
• wastewater discharges;
• waste generation and management;
• use of natural resources;
• compliance with environmental legislation;
• availability of required permits and documents;
• environmental risks and possible environmental damage.

The objective is to identify non-compliance and environmental risks and recommend ways to correct them and reduce adverse environmental impact.

Depending on the nature and type of the enterprise’s activities and their environmental impact, legislation requires various environmental reports.

The main types of environmental reporting in Kazakhstan are:

Industrial environmental control report

This is one of the key reports. Operators of Category I and II facilities must perform industrial environmental control and submit periodic results electronically to the National Data Bank on the Environment and Natural Resources.

Statistical reporting

• 4-OS — report on environmental protection expenditure;
• 2-TP (air) — atmospheric air protection report;
• 2-waste — waste processing, sorting, recovery and disposal report;
• 2-TP (water management) — water withdrawal, use and discharge report.

Pollutant Release and Transfer Register

The PRTR is a state electronic database to which enterprises report environmental pollution. Reports are prepared for specific facilities and pollutants and for the relevant types of waste.

Tax return form 870.00

Form 870.00 is a quarterly declaration of charges for adverse environmental impact. It records environmental emission volumes and calculates the corresponding payment from emissions, discharges and waste-disposal volumes.

Waste inventory report

This mandatory environmental report states which wastes the enterprise generates, in what quantities, and how much was transferred, processed, rendered harmless or remains at the facility.

Environmental impact declaration

Persons operating Category III facilities submit an environmental impact declaration with planned emission and waste-generation volumes to the local executive body of the relevant administrative-territorial unit.

A greenhouse-gas inventory and emissions monitoring plan are two interconnected elements of an organisation’s or enterprise’s emissions accounting and control system.

A greenhouse-gas inventory is the systematic calculation and documentation of the quantity of greenhouse gases emitted by an enterprise over a defined period, usually one year. It covers CO₂, CH₄, N₂O and other gases from sources such as fuel combustion, technological processes and leaks.

A greenhouse-gas emissions monitoring plan defines how emissions will be measured, calculated, controlled and confirmed: which sources are covered, which data are collected, how often they are collected, who is responsible for collecting and checking information, and which methods and coefficients are used.

Greenhouse-gas verification and validation are independent checks of data and statements concerning greenhouse-gas emissions and removals, including corporate reporting, carbon projects and carbon-unit trading.

The difference:

Validation checks a planned activity before it is implemented. For example, it assesses whether the project complies with the selected standard and whether the stated methodology for calculating emission reductions is justified.

Verification checks actual results for a defined period, including calculations, source data, coefficients used and the stated quantity of emissions or reductions.

We hold the relevant accreditation under ST RK ISO 14065 to perform greenhouse-gas verification and validation in accordance with the requirements of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Environmental monitoring is a system of regular observations, assessment and forecasting of changes in natural components caused by natural and anthropogenic factors.

Instrumental measurements are an important part of environmental monitoring. They provide quantitative data on the state of air, water, soil, physical factors and other environmental components.

The principal purpose of instrumental measurements is to objectively determine the actual state of the environment, identify exceedances of permissible pollution levels and detect adverse changes promptly. Reliable results depend not only on instrument quality but also on the correct measurement method, equipment preparation, working conditions and specialist qualifications.

The ECOS LLP accredited laboratory holds a valid accreditation certificate confirming its competence and the reliability and quality of its measurements.

Workplace (production facility) certification for working conditions assesses production facilities, shops, sections and workplaces to determine safety, harmfulness, work severity and intensity, occupational hygiene and compliance of the working environment with occupational safety standards.

ECOS LLP is included in the list of specialised organisations operating under the Rules for Mandatory Periodic Certification of Production Facilities for Working Conditions approved by Order No. 1057 of the Minister of Healthcare and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 28 December 2015. The company includes an accredited mobile testing laboratory and holds a state licence for sanitary, hygienic and laboratory studies, including sanitary and chemical testing, measurement of physical factors such as noise, vibration and electromagnetic fields, radiometry and dosimetry.

Certification performed by ECOS specialists includes a comprehensive assessment of production facilities for compliance with occupational safety standards: assessment of harmful and hazardous working conditions, injury safety and availability of collective and personal protective equipment.

Occupational risk assessment determines the degree of occupational risk by analysing hazard-identification information, statistics on occupational illness and injuries, and the availability of collective and personal protective equipment.

Occupational risks are identified for every occupation or position and workplace, broken down by production processes and activities, to identify mechanical, physical, chemical, biological and psychophysiological factors that could cause loss of working capacity or death while an employee performs their duties.

The assessment has several stages:

1. identifying workplace hazards;
2. determining the probability of a hazardous event;
3. assessing the severity of consequences for the employee;
4. determining the risk level;
5. developing risk-reduction measures, including eliminating hazards, using personal protective equipment and training employees;
6. reviewing the assessment when working conditions change or after an incident.

Workplace production control is a set of measures intended to ensure compliance with occupational safety, sanitary and production-safety requirements.

Production control is performed under a Production Control Programme. Before it begins, harmful and hazardous production factors that may affect employees while performing their duties are identified. Physical, chemical and other workplace factors are assessed according to the nature of production.

Testing and measurements are performed by an accredited laboratory using serviceable and verified measuring instruments. A specialist takes the required measurements directly at workplaces.

The results must objectively represent actual working conditions and the way work is performed. Measurements are taken during normal operations without specially prepared or artificially modified conditions.

Production control therefore provides an objective assessment of working conditions, identifies potential risks in good time and supports the measures required for safe and favourable working conditions.