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Without support from relevant stakeholders, municipalities will struggle to address air pollution
26. 02. 2025
Air
In connection with the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process, a public hearing was held on 12 February 2025 on the draft Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) for the Banská Bystrica region (BBSK) and the Strategic Document Assessment Report.
At the beginning, the AQMP was presented to attendees, including its objectives, proposed priority and supporting measures, the risk profile of municipalities in the Banská Bystrica region, and the structure of the document. The last AQMP was prepared in 2013, so its update was long overdue, particularly in connection with the European Commission’s lawsuit for non-compliance with the Ambient Air Directive. BBSK is one of two affected regions under this lawsuit, the other being the Košice region.
The contractor for the Assessment Report (Enviconsult s.r.o.) presented the SEA process, which concludes with the issuance of a final opinion after preparing the expert assessment. This opinion will either recommend or not recommend the adoption of the strategic document. The report identifies positive and negative impacts of implementing the strategic document and proposes measures to mitigate adverse effects.
Both the Strategic Document Assessment Report and the draft program are available on the Enviroportal:
Air Quality Improvement Program – Banská Bystrica Region
Participants had the opportunity to submit comments for inclusion in the current version of the AQMP. Proposed amendments included clarification of the magnesite mining area (Jelšava – Lubeník), strengthening support for municipal social enterprises producing biomass for households through grant schemes, specifying information regarding non-compliance with Government Resolution No. 617/2024, capturing waste heat from Slovak Magnesite Works in Jelšava (potential for further use), support for systematic environmental education (e.g., health-promoting stays or “school in nature” programs), and clarification of indicator reporting within the awareness-raising measures.
In conclusion, the presenters and other participants agreed that municipalities, without substantial support from relevant ministries, institutions, and financial mechanisms, will not be able to effectively address and actively manage air pollution—an issue explicitly highlighted in the PZKO.
