Control of Atmospheric Pollution (Limitation of Emissions of Certain Pollutants into Air from Large Combustion Plants) Regulations, 2004 (P.I. 195/2004).

The Regulations aim at combating air pollution from industrial facilities and provides for the adoption of certain procedures and measures to prevent or reduce air pollution from large combustion plants.
In general, the operators of such facilities are required to comply with the emission limit values as provided for into the Annexes attached in the Regulations and included such values in the permit. The competent authority with regular and extraordinary inspections shall ensure compliance with the permit conditions and impose penalties where there is a breach of such terms.
In particular, the Regulations provide for the obligation of the competent authority to ensure the reduction of emissions of certain pollutants (sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and dust) from the operation of large combustion plants (thermal input rate equal to or greater than 50MW, regardless of the type of fuel used). These emissions should not exceed certain limits in order to avoid air pollution. The emission limits set forth in the present Regulations differ depending on the starting date of plants operation and become more severe in those cases where facilities have obtained the relevant permits after 27.11.2002.
The Regulations also include the obligation of the competent authority to prepare annual reports on the state of operation and emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere from large combustion plants in the Republic, and send it for information to the European Commission.