Do you operate a facility that requires a permit under the law on the control of emissions, for which you already hold a permit, and are you planning to make substantial changes to this facility?

Significant changes are deemed to exist if the change in location, nature, or operation could cause adverse effects. If these changes also have a significant impact on the permit requirements for facilities requiring a permit, a permit is required.

A permit is also always required if the modification or expansion of operations at facilities requiring a permit results in the capacity limits or facility size being reached. Therefore, significant modifications to facilities requiring a permit must be reviewed by the environmental protection authority.

To do so, you must submit an application for a modification permit and provide all necessary documentation for the assessment. The application may be submitted in writing or electronically.

However, a permit is not required if:

• the adverse effects caused by the modification are clearly minor, and
• compliance with the permit requirements of the Federal Immission Control Act for facilities requiring a permit is ensured.

This also applies if an approved facility or parts of an approved facility are to be replaced within the scope of the granted permit.

If, in the operator’s assessment, the proposed change is not significant, the change must be reported to the competent authority.