7 December, Vitebsk /Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. Public utility enterprises in the Vitebsk region have completed the environmental standardisation of atmospheric emissions from boilers using local types of fuel (LTF), the Vitebsk Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection informed BELTA. The requirement to comply with environmental standards when burning LTF is primarily important because heating boilers are located in populated areas in close proximity to residential housing. Taking into account modern multi-storey buildings, which are present in small towns as well, and the relatively low chimneys of boilers, the dispersion of pollutants into the atmosphere to the required sanitary standards is not always ensured, specialists explained. At the same time, an analysis of the results of standardising emissions of pollutants in flue gases from boilers burning biomass (wood and its waste) showed that for many boilers, carbon dioxide emissions exceed the established limits (from 1.5 to 5 times, especially for small boilers), and solid particle emissions are almost always higher than the established limits (sometimes reaching a 30-fold excess). The dynamics of changes in gross atmospheric air pollution emissions show an increase in the volume of pollutants from public utility enterprises in recent years due to the implementation of the programme for switching to LTF. While in 2009 gross emissions amounted to 6.4 thousand tonnes of harmful substances, by the end of 2010 they were 6.8 thousand tonnes. In the Vitebsk region, the main consumers of LTF are heating boilers of the housing and communal services sector. Over 90% of the LTF balance in boilers is accounted for by the use of firewood, wood chips, and wood waste, with some peat being used. Public utility enterprises with LTF boilers have been set temporary emission standards and deadlines for implementing a set of measures to ensure environmental requirements in accordance with state standards. For example, 22 boilers of the Vitebsk Boiler and Heat Networks Enterprise do not comply with environmental standards for carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, and for two boilers, the limits for solid particle concentrations are exceeded. The deadline for carrying out operational adjustment work on these boilers and for modernising or replacing gas cleaning equipment in the flue gas removal system has been set by the action plan and special conditions of the emission permit until 31 December 2012.