Requests and questions regarding reproduction and rights should be directed to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. Any representation, statement, opinion or advice expressed or implied in this publication is made in good faith and on the basis that the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and its employees shall not be liable for any damage or loss that may occur as a result of action taken or not taken, as the case may be, with respect to any statement, statement, opinion or advice referred to herein. Professional advice should be obtained before applying the information in this document to specific circumstances.
This report describes the process and results of a redetermination of the maximum allowable amounts of sulfur dioxide within the framework of Environmental Protection. Information on the EPP can be found on the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) website at: www.epa.wa.gov.au/policies-guidance/environmental-protection-kinana-atmospheric-wastes-policy-1999-and - environmental. The computer modeling results and some of the text and figures in this report were provided by Ramboll Australia Pty Ltd on behalf of Kwinana.
These have been assessed and verified by the Department of Water and Environmental Management (DWER). In this report, the abbreviations “Kwinana EPP” and “EPP” refer to the Environmental Protection (Kwinana) Atmospheric Wastes) Policy 1999 and, where relevant, the Environmental Protection (Kwinana) (Atmospheric Wastes) Regulations 1992 (Regulations).
Overview of the Kwinana EPP
The Kwinana EVP provides for the CEO of DWER to determine the maximum allowable quantities (emission limits) of sulfur dioxide from significant sources in the EVP Area so that, in the CEO's opinion, the EVP standards and limits will be met. The EVP also provides for a redetermination of emission limits as and when required (for example to accommodate new industries or variations to existing industry emissions). EPA Bulletin provides a detailed description of the background to the EPP development, the underlying management strategy (which is current), and the computer model used for calculating maximum allowable amounts.
Ambient sulfur dioxide monitoring
Monitoring data show that ambient concentrations of sulfur dioxide are generally well below the EPP standard, although they are the highest recorded. The Hope Valley Monitoring Area was decommissioned in 2008 because its location was no longer available to DWER.
Computer model evaluation
As part of model evaluation during the 2009 reassessment, DISPMOD05 was also run for 1995 and 1996 using the actual emission characteristics provided by industry as part of their license conditions (as for DISPMOD97). DISPMOD05 also results in very high concentrations immediately west of the BP Refinery which is likely due mainly to the convective mixing and Draxler's lateral distribution formula. In summary, aside from the North Rockingham site, there is not a strong argument that one version of DISPMOD (that is, DISPMOD97 or DISPMOD05) fits the monitoring results better than the other.
The models have been run for three individual years, the meteorological data being 1980 (the data used in the 1992 redetermination), 1995 and 1996 (the data used in the verification studies).
Forms of maximum permissible quantities
Option to display the maximum allowed amounts on the statistics. the probabilistic) basis has advantages for industries (much better suited to their operational requirements), but at the same time allows for a more realistic management of the total environmental burden of sulfur dioxide and a more reliable assessment of the acceptability of additional emissions in the EPP area. In 2000, the maximum allowable quantities for Tiwest were re-established to meet the emissions profile for the Stage 1 expansion approved by the Minister for the Environment in 1997. In 2009, the maximum allowable quantity was re-established for all industries covered by the previous determination. was carried out, mainly for the benefit of redefining the maximum permitted quantities on a statistical basis as allowed under the EPP.
The two versions of DISPMOD and the probabilistic emissions processing software were provided to the VIF for use in the current redetermination. All Kwinana industries subject to the current EPP provision have indicated either collectively through the VIF or through other interactions with DWER or EPA that they wish to have their maximum allowable quantities redetermined at one.
Principles
Procedure for redetermining maximum permissible quantities of sulfur dioxide
For the purposes of this procedure, define 'maximum allowable quantity' to mean the mass of sulfur dioxide emitted per unit time, expressed in grams per second, kilograms per second, or dimensionally equivalent units. Accept the DISPMOD computer model (both versions DISPMOD97 and DISPMOD05) together with the data files or their samples in Appendix B as the best available means of calculating ground-level concentrations of sulfur dioxide in the policy area, noting that multiple calculations may be performed if necessary. to exclude from the concentration within any industrial premises the contribution to the concentration of that premises' own emissions in accordance with clause 6 of the Kwinana EPP. Provide the model and data files to Kwinana industry representatives so that, with the help of expert advisors, they can propose maximum allowable amounts of sulfur dioxide for each industrial source to achieve and meet ambient air quality standards and restrictions. .
Use the model and data files to verify that the industry proposal is correct and acceptable and, if so, determine that the maximum allowable amounts of sulfur dioxide should be those proposed by industry, subject to the following point (6). In the event that the industry proposal is unsuitable, for whatever reason, you must interact with Kwinana industry to define acceptable emissions and continue to determine the maximum allowable quantities, see clause (6). If maximum allowable quantities are to be expressed on a statistical basis, DWER can (after modelling) convert detailed source emission information to industrial site totals of maximum allowable quantities (possibly with associated upper limits on specified sources), if.
Pursuant to the provisions of the EPP, continue the program of monitoring the release of sulfur dioxide from all relevant industrial sources and monitoring the concentrations of sulfur dioxide in the environment at selected sites in the policy area and use this data to assess the adequacy of the model, related data and thus the outcome of points (4) or ( 5).
Industry emissions
The proposed emission cases considered as part of the current redefinition are shown in Table 2. An 'emission case' is a defined combination of emissions from the different sources of sulfur dioxide within an individual industrial site. For each case of industrial emissions, the emission characteristics for each individual source (i.e. volume, temperature and mass emission values) were also defined.
The emission examples for Nickel West, Alcoa, and Cockburn Cement remain unchanged from the 2009 redetermination. In Table 2, the source called “BP THEORETIC” refers to the collection of low emission sources. Emission sources from 'BP WEST 20' to 'BP WEST 300' represent the Western Flare at a BP refinery operating under various flow conditions.
For the purpose of processing emission cases, it is convenient to treat the different flow conditions as multiple collocated sources (flares), each emitting only within the emission case related to its flow state. The Tronox Bypass stack was also modeled as three co-located sources due to the differences in its emission volume.
Modelling results
There are currently no anticipated changes to the monitoring and reporting of environmental concentrations of sulfur dioxide.
