Harlow Council. Local Air Quality Management Progress Report. April 2005

Transcription

1 Harlow Council Local Air Quality Management Progress Report April 2005

2 Report written by: Ken Nicholson (Nicholson Environmental) For Essex County Council Waste, Recycling and Environment Environmental Strategy County Hall Chelmsford Essex CM1 1QH On behalf of: Michael Pitt Harlow Council Environmental Health Department Civic Centre Harlow CM20 1WG This report has been compiled as part of the Essex Air Quality Consortium Monitoring Network.

3 Contents 1. Introduction Background Outcome of previous Review and Assessments Monitoring data Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) Particles (PM 10 ) Emission sources New developments and planning in Harlow Local Transport Plan Summary and Conclusions... 8 APPENDIX 1 Summary of Reporting Schedule Tables Table 2.1 Monitoring results for the Harlow automatic site... 4 Table 2.2 Monitoring results for NO 2 diffusion tubes... 5 Table 3.1 Industrial Emission Sources in Harlow... 8 Figures Figure 2.1 Location of monitoring sites in Harlow

4 1. Introduction 1.1 Background This Progress Report is a requirement of the Environment Act 1995, Part IV, which places a duty on local authorities to review and assess air quality within their area periodically. The report is provided on an annual basis, following the Updating and Screening Assessment (USA) that was carried out in 2003, as part of the second round of Review and Assessment. The schedule for reporting is shown in Appendix 1. The objective of the Progress Reports is to provide continuity in the Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) process, by identifying any potential changes in air quality that might occur between the scheduled Review and Assessments which are due to be undertaken on a three-yearly basis. They are intended also to help local authorities by providing a means for communicating air quality information, increasing the effectiveness of the monitoring effort being carried out and providing a cost effective solution to address future monitoring needs. This Progress Report has been compiled with reference to the Progress Report Guidance (LAQM.PRG (03)) which was published by Defra in It presents information that has been collated since the production of the USA report, including air quality monitoring data, information about emission sources and any proposed developments, which have the potential to affect air quality in Harlow. 1.2 Outcome of previous Review and Assessments Harlow Council undertook the First Round of review and assessment, including Stages 1, 2 and 3 reports, during the period 1999 to The results of the First Round predicted that the air quality objectives should be met by their target dates and that it was therefore not necessary to declare any Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) for any pollutant. The main air quality issues were found to be emissions of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and particles (PM 10 ) from vehicles on the A414 and M11. The USA reconsidered the seven health based air quality objectives and was completed in October 2003 and it was concluded that there was still no risk of exceedence of objective levels by the target dates. Therefore, there was no requirement to carry out a detailed assessment for the Second Round of Review and Assessment. The 2004 Progress Report endorsed the conclusions of the USA. 3

5 2. Monitoring data Harlow District Council measures air quality in the district using an automatic air quality monitoring station situated 80 m from the A414. The station has been operating since October 2001 and it is classified as urban background. The station measures concentrations of oxides of nitrogen (NO x ) and particles (PM 10 ). In addition to the automatic monitoring station, diffusion tubes are used to measure NO 2 in Harlow District. In 2003, there were 5 tubes exposed at 5 sites in Harlow, including 1 tube exposed at a location adjacent to the automatic monitoring station. Since December 2003, triplicate measurements have been undertaken at the automatic monitoring station. Since April 2004, tubes have been located at two additional measurement sites. These sites have been located near to busy junctions that were identified in the USA as locations which would benefit from monitoring. The diffusion tubes used by Harlow Council are supplied and analysed by Harwell Scientific Services. A preparation method using 50% TEA (triethanolamine) in water is adopted. The correction factor for 2004 (to allow for bias) has been calculated as the mean of four parallel measurements (including diffusion tubes and automatic analysers). The results of these measurements are given on the University of the West of England website: ( The mean correction factor for 2004 is 0.89 and the reported values (for 2004) have been corrected using this factor. The corresponding correction factor used in earlier years was The locations of the measurement sites are shown in Figure 2.1. The results from the automatic monitoring station are summarised in Table 2.1 and the results of the diffusion tube analysis are given in Table 2.2. Table 2.1 Monitoring results for the Harlow automatic site Pollutant Statistic Nitrogen dioxide Annual mean concentration (NO 2 ) ( g/ m 3 ) Max 1 hour mean concentration ( g/ m 3 ) Exceedances of hourly objective (200 g/ m 3 ) Data capture (%) * 64.8 Particles Annual mean concentration (PM 10 ) ( g/ m 3 ) Maximum 24 hour mean concentration ( g/ m 3 ) Exceedances of 24-h mean objective (50 g/ m 3 ) Data capture (%) Notes: the 2005 annual mean value for NO 2 is predicted from 2004 measurements and assuming a decrease in exhaust emissions detailed by Defra in LAQM.TG (03); and data for 2003 are not fully ratified. 4

6 Table 2.2 Monitoring results for NO 2 diffusion tubes ID Location H 1 London Road Kerbside < H 2 Potter Street Kerbside < H 3 Purford Green Urban b/g < H 4 Hawkenbury Urban b/g < H 5 Auto. Monitor (1) Urban b/g < H6 Auto. Monitor (2) Urban b/g H7 Auto. Monitor (3) Urban b/g H8 East Park Kerbside H9 Gardiners Kerbside Notes: the 2005 annual mean value for is predicted from 2004 measurements and assuming a decrease in exhaust emissions detailed by Defra in LAQM.TG (03); b/g=background; and annual mean values are based on at least 9 months data with < signifying insufficient data. 2.1 Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide at the urban background continuous monitoring station have been below the annual mean objective limit (40 g/ m 3 ) since monitoring commenced in 2002 (see Table 2.1). In addition, there have been no exceedances of the hourly-mean objective value (200 g/ m 3 ). The 99.8 th percentile value was 85.2 g/ m 3, confirming compliance with the 2005 objective value for the hourly mean. The annual mean concentration of nitrogen dioxide measured by the automatic station in 2004 was 32.9 g/ m 3, which is marginally less than the corresponding value for However, the low number of measurements means that there is no statistically significant trend in the annual mean concentration. The annual mean concentration for 2005 is predicted to be equal to 32.1 g m -3, which is marginally less than the value for Diffusion tube monitoring results show that there are no current exceedances of the NO 2 annual mean objective (see Table 2.2), and the measured values were well below the 2005 objective value. There is some evidence of higher concentrations at the kerbside sites in 2003 and 2004, in comparison to earlier years. However, because of the low number of measurements, any increases are not statistically significant in terms of linear regression. The annual mean concentrations for 2005 are predicted to be marginally less than the values for Particles (PM 10 ) Concentrations of PM 10 at the urban background continuous monitor have remained well below the annual mean objective limit (40 g/ m 3 ). The annual mean concentration in 2004 was 15.6 g/ m 3 and there were no exceedances of the daily mean value (50 g/ m 3 ). The 90 th percentile concentration was 5

7 22.2 g/ m 3, confirming that the measured PM 10 concentrations were well within objective limits. The overall PM 10 levels in 2004 were somewhat less than in 2003 when the annual mean concentration was 24.3 g/ m 3 and there were 15 exceedances of the 24-hour mean (which is within the permitted level of 35 exceedances). There are insufficient data to analyse trends in particle concentrations. 3. Emission sources When the Updating and Screening Assessment was carried out in 2003, there were 5 Part A industrial sources and 24 Part B industrial sources (of which, 9 were petrol stations) in the district of Harlow. Since the USA was carried out, there have been no new industrial processes that have commenced operation, although 1 has ceased to operate (unloading of petrol at Templefields Service Station). However, 2 sources are scheduled to start in 2005 (bagging of mortar at Ronacrete and a waste oil burner at Harlow Car Spares) and one is scheduled to cease (metal coating at Robert Stuart). The industrial sources are listed in Table New developments and planning in Harlow Harlow is likely to be subject to extensive development over the next 10 to 20 years having been declared a regeneration area. The M11 corridor is likely to be the main area for this development and is situated to the north and east of the district. Two developments that might have an impact on air quality include the following. Fifth Avenue Harlow which will comprising 500 plus new homes on a former Sports Centre Site, together with road alterations. Development is likely to start over the next 2 years. New Hall Farm with an initial development of 95 hectares, including 2300 new homes, with supporting employment, schools, shops and other support facilities. There might be the construction of a dual carriageway with a new junction on to the M11 and A414 also. This is in the planning stage still, but ongoing development is likely to continue over next 5 to 10 years with a major increase in traffic movement. 6

8 Figure 2.1 Location of monitoring sites in Harlow Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty s Stationery Office. Copyright. Licence number LA Crown No. x y location HLW Old Bank House HLW Potters Street HLW Purford Green HLW4 Hawkenbury HLW AQMS 1 Harlow 5 HLW6 AQMS 2 HLW7 AQMS 3 HLW East Park HLW Gardeners 7

9 Table 3.1 Industrial Emission Sources in Harlow Process Name Process Type PG Note Notes Synthomer Ltd Petrochemical processes; Manufacture and use of organic chemicals Part A Glaxosmithkline plc Manufacture/ use of organic chemicals Part A Robert Stuart plc Inorganic chemical processes Part A Fusion Automation Inc Non-ferrous metals Part A United Glass Glass container manufacturer 3/ 3 Harlow Coachwork Ltd. Vehicle respraying 6/ 34 Kores Nordic Coating manufacture & coating 6/10, 6/14 E. Wish Timber machining 6/ 2 Robert Stuart plc Metal coating 6/ 23 Ceased 2005 Harlow Premix South East Concrete batching 3/ 1 Name change RMC Concrete batching 3/ 1 Parndon Wood Crematorium Crematoria 5/ 2 GlaxoSmithkline plc Clinical waste incinerator 5/ 1 Harlow Truck Centre Small Waste Oil Burner 1/ 1 Staple Tye Service Station (BP) Unloading of Petrol 1/ 14 Harlow Service Station Unloading of Petrol 1/ 14 Sainsburys Supermarket Unloading of Petrol 1/ 14 Tesco Stores Ltd (C/Langley) Unloading of Petrol 1/ 14 Tesco Stores Ltd (East Road) Unloading of Petrol 1/ 14 Total Convenience Store (EW) Unloading of Petrol 1/ 14 Total Convenience Store (LW) Unloading of Petrol 1/ 14 Harlow Service Station (Esso) Unloading of Petrol 1/ 14 Templefields Service Station Unloading of Petrol 1/ 14 Ceased Harlow Asphalt Ltd. Roadstone coating. 6/ 15 Aggregates Industries Ltd. Roadstone coating. 6/ 15 Bardon Concrete Concrete batching 3/ 1 CPI Mortars Ltd. Mortar batching 3/ 1 & 6/ 15 RB Whitbread Ltd. Mobile concrete crusher 3/ 16 Ronacrete Limited Bagging of mortar 3/1 Started 2005 Harlow Car Spares Limited Waste oil burner 1/14 Started Local Transport Plan Harlow is covered by the Essex County Council Local Transport Plan (LTP). There are a number of general measures in the Essex LTP that are aimed at reducing the impact of road transport on air quality. The Council is working in partnership with the Highways and Transportation department of Essex County Council to ensure that new traffic management schemes consider the potential impact on air quality. 6. Summary and Conclusions The Progress Report shows that Harlow Council is meeting the air quality objectives currently and is not at risk of exceeding the objectives for nitrogen dioxide and particles (PM 10 ). 8

10 The Council is working in partnership with key stakeholders to ensure that the air quality in Harlow remains below objective limits and continues to improve. Based on the findings of this Progress Report there is no obvious need for Harlow Council to carry out any detailed assessment of any air quality issues. The next air quality report to be prepared and submitted to Defra will be the 2006 Progress Report. 9

11 APPENDIX 1 SUMMARY OF REPORTING SCHEDULE 10

12 Source: Progress Report Guidance LAQM.PRG (03), Defra (2003). 11