Regulatory Compliance Towards Increased Self Monitoring 2008 AECEN

Regulatory Compliance Towards Increased Self. Monitoring 2008 AECEN REGIONAL FORUM BALI 24 -26 Nov 08 Mr Jothieswaran P Chief Engineer Pollution Control Department National Environment Agency Singapore

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Clean Land Clean Water Clean Air & Climate Change

Introduction • Singapore is an island city -state (700 km 2) with a population of 4. 5 million • Today, Singapore is highly urbanised and industrialised with major industries like oil refineries, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, wafer fabrication and electronic plants

Introduction • In the process of industrialisation, there were also parallel developments in the housing, commercial and service sectors • All these developments generated pollution, wastewater and solid waste, and would have caused degradation to the environment. However, this did not happen in Singapore • Singaporeans today enjoy a clean and green environment, and a high standard of public heath

Environmental Management Strategy • The present state of the environment in Singapore is achieved through adopting a forward-looking and an integrated approach to environmental protection and management as follows: – – Prevention Enforcement Monitoring Education & Partnership

CONCEPT PLAN 2001

Environmental Management Strategy • • Prevention Enforcement Monitoring Education / Partnership • Key thrusts of pollution prevention strategy adopted in Singapore: – Proper land use planning – Judicious siting of industries – Development and building plan control – Provision of environmental infrastructure – Regulatory Controls and Policies

CONCEPT PLAN 2001

Environmental Management Strategy • • Prevention Enforcement Monitoring Education / Partnership • Legislation enacted to control pollution is supported by close monitoring and strict enforcement • Regular inspections • Investigation of complaints/feedback

Environmental Management Strategy • • Prevention Enforcement Monitoring Education / Partnership • Continuous monitoring of ambient air quality • Inland & coastal waters monitoring • Monitor latest developments in industrial processes and pollution control technologies • Monitoring data serve as feedback on adequacy and effectiveness of control programmes

Environmental Management Strategy • • Prevention Enforcement Monitoring Education / Partnership • Public campaigns, e. g. Clean and Green Week • Training courses for professionals, industries, etc • Seminars, workshops for industries, businesses, etc • Dialogues with industries, professional institutions, etc

Regulatory Compliance • The Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) is the main piece of legislation on pollution control in Singapore • The Act : – Is based on the principle of strict liability – Sets limits on air and water pollutant emissions and noise generated – Allows NEA to require companies to carry out selfmonitoring

Regulatory Compliance • The pollution and noise limits are stipulated under the respective regulations as follows: – Air Emissions Air Impurities Regulations – Industrial Wastewater Discharge Trade Effluent Regulations – Noise Boundary Limits for Factory Premises Regulations Control of Noise at Construction Sites

Regulatory Compliance Self-monitoring, Reporting & Record-keeping The following are offences under the EPMA: • Failure to install, operate and maintain any monitoring equipment properly and efficiently • Failure to submit monitoring results • Failure to report promptly any release or discharge of hazardous chemicals into the environment

Regulatory Compliance Monitoring points for compliance: • Air Emission – Chimney Stack • Wastewater Discharge – Water body • Factory Noise – Boundary of factory premise • Construction Noise – Nearest affected premises

Industries that carry out Self-monitoring and Reporting Air emissions Refineries, Power Plants, Process Industries, Industries with Boilers > 2, 300 kg/hr steam generating capacity – Carry out source emission – Submit smoke density records – Submit data on quantity and quality (sulphur content) of fuel used

Industries that carry out Self-monitoring and Reporting Wastewater Discharges Process industries that discharge trade effluent – Analytical results of samples collected – Continuous monitoring of p. H level of trade effluent • Submission of records to authority • Monitoring device sealed by authority

Industries that carry out Self-monitoring and Reporting Noise Construction sites – Continuous monitoring of noise – Submission of noise records – Automatic transmission of noise levels via sms Factory Premises – Noise measurement taken before plant commences operation – Ad-hoc measurement, new equipment installed, equipment failure, public feedback

Continuous Telemetry Monitoring Industries • Major emitters currently have installed continuous monitoring devices to monitor emission of main pollutants (SO 2, PM, NOX and CO) from their chimneys • NEA has implemented a programme to require these major emitters to link their monitoring systems to NEA’s central monitoring systems via telemetry • Programme is under implementation

Benefits of Self monitoring Industries • Any exceedances due to pollution control equipment failure will be known and immediately attended to • Process failures can be detected early • Pollution will be minimised

Benefits of Self monitoring Government • Resources earlier allocated for routine monitoring can be deployed to focus on other technical matters • With in-stack monitoring, there will be a better inventory of the discharge into the environment.

Thank You