Methodology Statement. Field-Based Ambient Odour Intensity Assessment (FAOA)

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3 Field-Based Ambient Odour Intensity Assessment (FAOA)

4 THE ODOUR UNIT (WA) PTY LTD Trading Name: The Odour Unit (WA) Pty Limited ABN: ACN: Address: Showroom 1/16 Hulme Court, Myaree WA 6154 Office: Fax: Manager: John Hurley Mobile: jhurley@odourunit.com.au This document may only be used for the purpose for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the Terms of Engagement for the commission. This document should not be used or copied without written authorisation from The Odour Unit (WA) Pty Ltd. This document is a detailing the methodologies undertaken for the assessment of off-site ground level odour intensities according to the German Standard VDI Method Revision Methodology Number Issue Date Description FAOA Method (ver.1.0) FAOA Method Statement for Review FAOA Method (ver.2.0) FAOA Method Statement for Review FAOA Method FAOA Method Statement FINAL Method Prepared for: Southern Metropolitan Regional Council Canning Vale Regional Resource Recovery Centre (RRRC) Method Prepared By: J. Hurley Approved By: T. Schulz Methodology Title: pg / 2

5 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 METHODOLOGY BACKGROUND TERMS & DEFINITIONS THE ODOUR SOURCE (SMRC RRRC) RRRC FAOA METHODOLOGY Purpose of FAOA Preamble to RRRC FAOA Methodology RRRC FAOA Objectives The RRRC FAOA Odour Key Descriptors (Odour Quality) Odour Intensity Categories Table 4.5.1: VDI 3882 (Part 1) Odour Intensity Categories Odour Intensity & Frequency Criterion for RRRC Selection of Panel Members Size of Panel Frequency of FAOA Surveys Preferential Ambient Wind Conditions, Assessment Areas & Measurement Points Figure : SMRC RRRC FAOA Survey Assessment Area 1 & Measurement Points (Easterly Wind Origin) Figure : SMRC RRRC FAOA Survey Assessment Area 2 & Measurement Points (East, Southeasterly Wind Origin)...22 Figure : SMRC RRRC FAOA Survey Assessment Area 3 & Measurement Points (South-easterly Wind Origin) Figure : SMRC RRRC FAOA Survey Assessment Area 4 & Measurement Points (South, southeast & Southerly Wind Origins) EXAMPLE OF RRRC FAOA SURVEY REPORT...25 APPENDIX A...35 FAOA FIELD-DATA SHEETS pg / 3

6 1 METHODOLOGY BACKGROUND The Odour Unit (WA) Pty Limited This (hereinafter referred to as the method) has been compiled by The Odour Unit (WA) Pty Limited (TOU) to detail the methodology undertaken to determine the impact of off-site ground level odours observable at downwind distances from the odour source in question. Specifically, the method detailed herein will be used to assess the presence, intensity and frequency of ground level odours downwind of the Southern Metropolitan Regional Councils (SMRC) Regional Resource Recovery Centres (RRRC) Waste Composting Facility (WCF). This field method of assessing/observing odours is based on the standard known as Measurement of Odour Impact by Field Inspection defined by the German Standard VDI The system by which those observed odours are ranked according to the strength of the odour sensation experienced is based on the German Standard VDI 3882 Part 1. The Measurement of Odour Impact by Field Inspection, otherwise referred to as a Field- Based Ambient Odour Intensity Assessment (hereinafter referred to as FAOA) utilises field data observations by ground-truthing detectable odours from a pre-defined odour source to assess both the odour intensity of an observed odour, and its frequency of observation. These odours are detected by a panel of field technicians (panel members) that have been calibrated for their olfactory sensitivity according to the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS4323.3:2001. The use of a FAOA provides a robust understanding of actual off-site odour impacts from a pre-defined odour source allowing the observations to be interpreted as (among others) problematic at a given location due to high intensity and frequency, or acceptable when observing a low intensity and frequency of those observations. pg / 4

7 2 TERMS & DEFINITIONS The Odour Unit (WA) Pty Limited TOU refers to The Odour Unit (WA) Pty Limited who are the commissioned consultant undertaking the Method for the SMRC; SMRC refers to The Southern Metropolitan Regional Council; RRRC refers to the SMRC Canning Vale Regional Resource Recovery Facility; MRF refers to the SMRC RRRC Materials Recovery Facility; GWF refers to the SMRC RRRC Green Waste Processing Facility; WCF refers to the SMRC RRRC Waste Composting Facility; MSW refers to putrescible Municipal Solid Waste; Method refers to the methodology to be undertaken; Methodology means the system of all individual tasks, techniques, tools and measurements undertaken to collect the desired dataset of information or solve the problem; FAOA means Field-Based Ambient Odour Intensity Assessment; Survey refers to a single FAOA; Survey Period refers to the period in which all single measurements are carried out, e.g. from December to April, July to December; Panel refers to the group of panel members that carry out the survey; Panel Members refer to person/s making up the panel; Measurement Day refers to the day on which a survey or surveys was undertaken; Single Measurement refers to the measurement of odour impact at a measurement point over a defined measurement cycle; Measurement Point refers to the panel members position at which a single measurement is carried out. For a grid measurement the measurement point is usually situated at a point of intersection of grid lines; Measurement Cycle refers to the time required for a single measurement at a measurement point (10 minutes); pg / 5

8 Grab Measurement refers to the panel member taking a single sniff of the ambient air at each ten second interval within the measurement cycle and ranking the odour intensity experienced at that grab measurement the result is a single Odour Sample; Assessment Area refers to the defined area for the specific task in hand. The size and shape depend on the task and on the number and type of odour sources whose impact range is being assessed; Impact Range refers to the area in which an odour impact is caused by the emitter(s) under investigation; Odour Impact means the impact of odours on humans expressed by the frequency, duration, quality, intensity and hedonic tone of odorant concentrations above the recognition threshold in the field; Odour Quality means the comparative description of an odour with olfactory experience, e.g. there is a smell of, it smells burnt, rotten etc; Recognition Threshold as it relates to the German Standard VDI 3940 means the odorant concentration at which a detectable odour within a facility s impact range can be clearly assigned to a facility for the first time; Odour Intensity refers to the strength of odour sensation caused by the olfactory stimulus; Percentage Odour Time refers to the total times/intervals which the odour is recognizable during a measurement cycle at a single measurement point. pg / 6

9 3 THE ODOUR SOURCE (SMRC RRRC) The Odour Unit (WA) Pty Limited The Southern Metropolitan Regional Councils Regional Resource Recovery Centre (RRRC) encompasses a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) that recovers recyclables, a Green Waste Facility (GWF) that collects and processes green waste influent from council operations, kerbside collections and residential streams and a Waste Composting Facility (WCF) that processes Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) and converts the waste into a useful compost product. The RRRC is a Prescribed Premises licenced under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 according to the following categories: CATEGORY DESCRIPTION CAPACITY 67A 61A Composting manufacturing and soil blending Solid waste depot No more than 71,000 tonnes per year No more than 52,000 tonnes per year The main areas for odour generation are the GWF and the WCF. The GWF operates within a daily timeframe where incoming residential greenwaste is temporarily stored and then transported off-site, or incoming commercial greenwaste is processed by way of grinding and downsizing before it is temporarily stored then removed from site. The GWF grinding and downsizing activities only occur within day time working hours. The WCF receives influent MSW via a tipping floor. The risk of odour emission from the tipping building is of a lesser magnitude compared to the aeration/maturation building as it occupies a smaller volume and has point source capture of odours from digesters. pg / 7

10 The MSW is loaded into digester vessels where a pre-treatment composting/decomposition process takes place. This process evolves higher odour concentrations compared to other areas of the plant. The odorous air from the tipping floor and from inside the digester vessels is captured and treated via biofilters 3 & 4. The digester vessels discharge the composted MSW into the aeration/maturation building where ferrous metals are removed prior to screening to remove non-compostable materials such as plastics, textiles and other inerts. The resultant material is then arranged into windrows where each windrow is force aerated from below. The aeration/maturation building evolves more moderate odour concentrations, but in larger volumes compared to other parts of the plant. The air inside the building is captured and treated via biofilters 1 & 2. This building is also considered a potential source for fugitive odour emissions as mobile plant equipment moves into and out of the building during daily operational hours. pg / 8

11 4 RRRC FAOA METHODOLOGY 4.1 Purpose of FAOA The SMRC RRRC has been issued a new operational licence that prescribes the required independent assessment of off-site odour impacts by way of FAOA surveys. The licence conditions relating to FAOA surveys include: 24(a): The licensee shall submit to the Director for approval, by 1 June 2012 an Ambient Odour Assessment Plan for the purposes of measuring odour within the community surrounding the premises and measuring odour improvement; 24(b): The Ambient Odour Assessment Plan shall include, but not be limited to, the following detail: o (i) the number of locations at which the surveys will be undertaken with a one kilometre radius of the premises; o (ii) the manner by which the field surveys will be undertaken using recommendations within German VDI method 3940, including, but not limited, the selection of the panellists and the number of panellists per survey; o (iii) identify meteorological and operational conditions conducive to possible odour impacts within the selected measurement area; o (iv) shall be undertaken during periods that are conducive to odour emissions; o (v) shall be undertaken monthly between 27 July 2012 and 15 December 2012 weekly between 15 December 2012 and 30 April 2013 and monthly thereafter; and o (vi) the criteria to be used to compare odour field survey results and assess the level of odour impact and any changes to odour emissions from the premises. 24(c): The licensee shall implement the approved Ambient Odour Assessment Plan; 24(d): The licensee shall submit a report by 15 March 2013 detailing the results of the Ambient Odour Assessment Plan and an assessment of the results against the criteria as detailed in condition 24(b)(vi).

12 The Environmental Assessment Report and Cover letter to the amended licence also state that: DEC will include the outcomes of the ambient field odour surveys carried out by consultants of SMRC in determining SMRC s performance and whether a measurable reduction in odour has been achieved. These surveys are to be used as an assessment tool to determine the extent of off-site odour impacts from emissions sources at the RRRC. These emission sources are the GWF and more intently the WCF. The WCF has two primary emissions sources of interest, namely the biofilters which treat the captured process air, and the process building(s) themselves as fugitive odour emissions, specifically the compost aeration building. The RRRC, as part of its renewed licence conditions, is required to upgrade its existing odour capture and treatment technologies to provide a higher level of odour control and odour treatment than currently exists. The FAOA surveys will be the assessment tool (among others) to define the level of odour impact off-site (if any), and the magnitude to which any observed odour impacts do exist. 4.2 Preamble to RRRC FAOA Methodology The undertaking of a FAOA survey is based herein on the German Standard VDI 3940 Measurement of Odour Impact by Field Inspection. This standard prescribes the methods by which field technicians (panel members) determine, define and document observed ground level odours and the manner in which the determination of these odours is defined in relation to odour character, frequency of odours observed and the odour intensity of those individual observations as a quantitative scale of measure. pg / 10

13 TOU utilise a method for assessing the ground level impacts of odour emissions based on the German Standard VDI 3940 Measurement of Odour Impact by Field Inspection. The TOU method as it relates to the RRRC encompasses (but is not limited to): Preferential wind conditions: o Easterly o East, south-easterly o South-easterly o South, south-easterly; and o Southerly Preferential worst-case meteorological conditions: o Time-of-day; Early morning (6AM); Midday (12NOON); and Early-late evening (5PM) & (8PM). o Calm conditions; Preferential RRRC Operational Conditions supporting heightened odour emissions: o Windrow Turning inside WCF Aeration Building (WCF); o Discharging of Primary Digestion vessels (WCF); and o Daytime typical delivery of waste streams & processing (GWF). 1 kilometre radius from the RRRC as the extent of the field inspection gridded pattern; Panelists (field technician) selection; and Number of panellists. With this method, a panel of calibrated and experienced panel members conduct a single measurement(s) at discrete measurement points (a grid defined within the surveyed odour plume) within a pre-determined assessment area downwind of the RRRC. pg / 11

14 Each measurement cycle comprises 60 grab measurements every 10 seconds for a single measurement cycle of 10 minutes. Each grab measurement results in a single Odour Sample. Each assessment area is representative of a preferential wind condition as it relates to the odour source being assessed i.e. the RRRC. An FAOA survey comprises the total individual discrete measurement points, and the total single measurement(s) undertaken within the assessment area representative of the preferential wind condition on the measurement day. For example: Under an easterly wind condition one survey on the measurement day was conducted by undertaking two single measurements at ten discrete measurement points within the assessment area. The outcome of the survey provided a dataset of twenty single measurements over the assessment area on that measurement day. The survey utilised a panel of five, with each panel member undertaking four single measurements over the assessment area. The survey period is often reflective of worst-case meteorological conditions such as the survey period of December April as it relates to the RRRC. A survey may be undertaken at any interval during the survey period (i.e. daily, weekly etc). The result of each FAOA survey derives the impact range within that assessment area for each survey. Assessment areas may vary over the survey period to cover multiple wind conditions. For every single measurement the panel assesses the presence, character and intensity of any observed odours. Each survey is designed to collect a multitude of single measurements per measurement day, since one survey may typically take up to three hours to completely assess each measurement point within the assessment area when accounting for panel member mobility and the size of the panel itself. In general, the objective of a survey is to determine the decay of odours observed downwind of the odour source/s thus defining the odour impact and impact range. Within the impact range the magnitude of the odour impact can be defined by determining the maximum distance to which the clearly recognizable odour is considered pg / 12

15 problematic. This is done by firstly assigning a level of odour intensity (the quantitative scale) considered problematic for a given odour source, which would be considered equal to or greater than a nuisance odour intensity. For example, an assigned intensity of 3 (distinct) may be considered the upper limit to which an observed odour is acceptable in the community and therefore not an odour impact. Once a 3 is observed, or greater, the odour is clearly recognizable at that measurement point and hence the observed odour can be assigned to the facility being assessed (the recognition threshold). That measurement point can be considered wholly affected, or impacted, by a nuisance odour. Multiple measurement points within the assessment area impacted by an observed odour intensity of 3 or greater would then make up the impact range. However, the frequency of the odour observations must also be considered. 4.3 RRRC FAOA Objectives The objectives of these FAOA surveys as they relate to the RRRC are as follows: Define the Odour Key as it relates to the odour sources at the RRRC; Define the problematic odour intensity and frequency criterion for the RRRC; Under multiple preferential wind conditions and times of day: o Define the assessment area downwind of the RRRC within a 1 kilometre radius from the edge of the nearest RRRC odour source; o Define the number of measurement points (a grid within the surveyed odour plume), and their corresponding point identifications, within the assessment area; o Observe & record the odour intensities at each measurement point; o Derive the odour intensity frequencies at each measurement point; o Derive the odour impact at each measurement point as it relates to a predefined problematic odour intensity and frequency criterion; and o Determine the impact range (if any) off-site of the RRRC. Compile FAOA reports that detail the collected datasets over each survey period; Determine if the impact range is wholly affecting sensitive receptors; and Determine those odour emission sources at the RRRC that are causing the off-site odour impact within those assessment areas. pg / 13

16 4.4 The RRRC FAOA Odour Key Descriptors (Odour Quality) The odour sources at the RRRC have their origins from the GWF and the WCF. The primary GWF odour sources are related to green waste grinding and shredding on-site. The primary WCF odour sources are related to the biofilters, aeration building and tipping floor. There are four biofilters at the WCF which treat captured air from the compost aeration building, compost primary digesters and the tipping floor which receives the influent waste streams. The FAOA Odour Key (odour quality) for the RRRC WCF is: Green Waste Facility (GWF) Green waste processing of influent garden wastes and tree lopping Odour Key Descriptor(s) Dry Cut Grass, Tobacco Waste Composting Facility (WCF) Biofilters 1 & 2 Treat captured air from the compost aeration building including the digester discharge Odour Key Descriptor(s) Moist, Soil, Garden Compost WCF Biofilters 3 & 4 Treat captured air from the inside of the digester vessels and from the tipping floor Odour Key Descriptor(s) Cool, Pine-Solvent, Garden Compost WCF Compost Aeration Building (fugitive odours) Aerated sub-floor technology for composting the recovered MSW Odour Key Descriptor(s) Fruity Cake, Rich Fermented pg / 14

17 4.5 Odour Intensity Categories The observed off-site odours are quantified according to the German Standard VDI 3882 Part 1. The category scale for judging odour intensity in the field is a quantitative reference scale where panel members award one of the attributes in the Table (below) to his or her odour impression. Table 4.5.1: VDI 3882 (Part 1) Odour Intensity Categories Odour Strength Intensity Rank (code) TOU Interpretation (meaning) Not detectable 0 No odour detected Very Weak 1 Odour recognised and assigned to the odour source Weak 2 Odour is weak but not yet distinct Distinct 3 Odour is clearly distinct Strong 4 Strong odour detectable Very Strong 5 Extremely Strong 6 If offensive, observer may consider moving from the area Odour is sufficiently over-powering that assessor moves from area An odour is clearly recognised (category of intensity 1) when the odour quality and hence an origin of the odour source can be clearly assigned. 4.6 Odour Intensity & Frequency Criterion for RRRC Referring to the Odour Intensity Categories listed and described in Table above, the odour intensity of 2 (Weak) has been chosen to represent an odour impact from the RRRC. pg / 15

18 The Odour Intensity Category of 2 (Weak) is chosen due to the high-density residential areas (sensitive receptors) that exist downwind of the RRRC and the previous complaints history from these sensitive receptor locations. An intensity level of 2 is more conservative in assessing a problematic odour impact for the RRRC when compared to the typically chosen intensity level of 3. The higher conservatism will demand a higher level of odour control and treatment at the RRRC. The frequency of the observed odour intensity category of 2 will be considered problematic when the percentage odour time of the intensity category 2 is 20% of the single measurement cycle, i.e. 20% of a total of 60 odour samples (12 odour samples of an intensity of 2 or more). This 20% does not include observed odour intensities less than 2, i.e. does not include an observed odour intensity of 1. Should the single measurement cycle at a discrete measurement point result in a percentage of observed intensities of 2 equalling or exceeding 20%, then that single measurement point is considered to be odour impacted. Where more than one panel member has assessed that measurement point within the FAOA survey, the results of the odour samples collected are averaged to derive the average frequency of each individually observed odour intensity, i.e. for 2 panel members assessing a single measurement point, the criterion is based on the percentage odour time from 120 odour samples. 4.7 Selection of Panel Members For the selection of Panel Members as it relates to the VDI 3940 standard, the most important selection criterion is currently odour sensitivity to n-butanol in nitrogen. TOU specialises in, and stringently carries out Dynamic Olfactometry according to Australian Standard AS/NZS4323.3:2001. TOU performs panel member n-butanol calibrations before all olfactometry testing sessions in our laboratories, in addition to the pg / 16

19 required primary calibration where each panel member is calibrated against n-butanol from at least ten dilution series collected on three different, non-consecutive days. TOU has considerable data history on each panellist for their individual sensitivity to the calibration reference gas n-butanol. Each panel member is selected from TOU s pool of calibrated odour panelists. VDI 3940 additionally recommends assessor calibration data history for the reference gas Hydrogen sulphide when assessing hedonic tone in concert with odour intensity. This methodology statement is only for odour intensity determination and, as such, this recommendation is not applicable. Optional tests, from VDI 3940, are used to determine the panel members ability to discriminate odours of different intensities. The first test involves ranking 7 flasks of different n-butanol concentrations (derived from VDI 3940). TOU has previously undertaken this optional test on more than one occasion for other FAOA surveys and found the results of this as poor, with only 2 of the panelists ranking them successfully. The assessors considered the solutions relatively weak and too similar to be compared to the VDI intensity scale. As such TOU does not rely on this optional test when selecting panel members. The second optional test utilises the triangle method where each panel member must discern between three bags of odorants, 2 identical and 1 different, to identify the different sample by either intensity or quality. This test is routinely chosen to be performed before each survey when TOU considers that the panel members have been out of practice for undertaking FAOA surveys. As a general rule, TOU undertakes dynamic olfactometry assessments within the range of odour tests annually. As a consequence TOU s panel members are highly skilled for olfactory analyses. As part of TOU s laboratory olfactometry analyses, TOU also undertakes laboratory derived intensity assessments on individual odour samples where the panel members are exposed to laboratory conditions of odour intensity pg / 17

20 determination. Additionally, TOU also undertakes a high volume of FAOA surveys annually which exposes panel members to a variety of odour sources in the field. 4.8 Size of Panel According to the German Standard VDI 3940 the pool of assessors should consist of four times as many assessors as are needed for one measurement day, and of not less than ten persons. The size of the panel should be chosen appropriate to the objective of the survey. As such a minimum of three FAOA panel members per measurement day is required. If for example the plume was considered wide reaching, the objective of the survey may be to observe the entire plume width and intensity and therefore more than three persons may be deployed. TOU utilises three panel members as a minimum per FAOA survey, one of which acts as a coordinator for the group of assessors. 4.9 Frequency of FAOA Surveys As prescribed in the licence conditions, the FAOA surveys shall be undertaken monthly between 27 th July 2012 and 15 th December 2012, weekly between 15 th December 2012 and 30 th April 2013 and monthly thereafter. The timing of each measurement day will coincide with the most preferential weather conditions representing those situations where odour emissions may be heightened from the RRRC. The timing for each FAOA under preferential weather conditions will be a combination of the early morning in the timeframe of 6AM 9AM, midday timeframe of 12NOON 3PM and the evening timeframes of 5PM 8PM and 8PM 11PM weekdays. Weekend FAOA surveys may be undertaken commensurate with favourable weather conditions and seasonal holidays to reflect the most conservative conditions for an odour impact. pg / 18

21 4.10 Preferential Ambient Wind Conditions, Assessment Areas & Measurement Points The RRRC is east of the residential sensitive receptors. Those preferential ambient wind conditions and their corresponding assessment areas are: 1) Easterly Wind Origin Assessment Area 1, Bordered by Dundee Street, Beasley Road, Hollingsworth Way, and Roe Highway Pedestrian Footpath. o 12 Measurement Points Refer Figure below 2) East, south-easterly Wind Origin Assessment Area 2, Bordered by Hollingsworth Way, Beasley Road, Timbrell Way, McGuiness Drive Beasley Road, Merrifield Circle, and Roe Highway Pedestrian Footpath. o 12 Measurement Points Refer Figure below 3) South-easterly Wind Origin Assessment Area 3, Bordered by Beasley Road, pg / 19

22 Merrifield Circle (in its entirety), and Roe Highway Pedestrian Footpath. o 10 Measurement Points Refer Figure below 4) South, south-easterly, AND Southerly Wind Origin Assessment Area 4, Bordered by Merrifield Circle (northern part adjacent to South Street), Darian Drive (via access from South Street but not including), Trident Terrace, Plover Drive, and Arlington Drive. o 9 Measurement Points Refer Figure below TOU tracks the weather daily and observes weather forecasts and immediate conditions prior to and on the morning or evening of each survey. TOU conducts each ambient survey preferentially when the winds are generally light to moderate (1m/s 5m/s) and preferentially dusk and dawn to mirror those times where people inhabit their homes in the morning and evening. According to the VDI 3940 (Part 1) standard, the assessment of a single measurement point should account for all times of the day, as a consequence the typical starting timeframes for each FAOA survey will be 6AM, 12NOON, 5PM and 8PM. pg / 20

23 Figure : SMRC RRRC FAOA Survey Assessment Area 1 & Measurement Points (Easterly Wind Origin). pg / 21

24 Figure : SMRC RRRC FAOA Survey Assessment Area 2 & Measurement Points (East, South-easterly Wind Origin). pg / 22

25 Figure : SMRC RRRC FAOA Survey Assessment Area 3 & Measurement Points (South-easterly Wind Origin). pg / 23

26 Figure : SMRC RRRC FAOA Survey Assessment Area 4 & Measurement Points (South, south-east & Southerly Wind Origins). pg / 24

27 EXAMPLE OF RRRC FAOA SURVEY REPORT

28 FAOA COMPLIANCE REPORT Client: SMRC Site of Assessment: Canning Vale RRRC Survey Period: August 2012 Survey Date: August 6 th 2012 Day(s) of Survey Period: Monday Start Time(s) of Survey Period: 5PM Wind Origin(s): (E: 90 0 ) Wind Survey Start: 2m/s Assessment Area(s): 1 FAOA Inspection Number: RRRC_ AA_1 Operator: TOU (WA) Clayton Hough / John Hurley Panel Members: 4 (inc. operator) Panel IDs & Last Calibration: P-1_ P-2_ P-3_ P-4_ Calibration Type: n-butanol TOU (WA) Dynamic Olfactometry The undertaking of a FAOA survey is based herein on the German Standard VDI 3940 Measurement of Odour Impact by Field Inspection. This standard prescribes the methods by which field technicians (panel members) determine, define and document observed ground level odours and the manner in which the determination of these odours is defined in relation to odour character, frequency of odours observed and the odour intensity of those individual observations as a quantitative scale of measure. SMRC RRRC FAOA Compliance_August 2012

29 TOU utilise a method for assessing the ground level impacts of odour emissions based on the German Standard VDI 3940 Measurement of Odour Impact by Field Inspection. The following summary lists the general and specific methods utilised herein (refer to SMRC Document ####.for a full description of the methods used). FAOA METHOD DETAILS Field Inspection Method Standard: VDI 3940 (Part 2) Description of Standard: Measurement of odour impact by field inspection Measurement of the impact frequency of recognizable odours Plume measurement Field Inspection Method Standard: VDI 3940 (Part 3) Description of Standard: Measurement of odour impact by field inspection Determination of odour intensity and hedonic odour tone Exceptions: VDI 3940 (Part 3) Hedonic odour tone not assessed Wind Origin: Easterly Assessment Area: 1 Measurement Points (grid locations): 1 - Cnr. Dundee Street & Beasley Road 2 Beasley Road (middle) 3 Cnr. Beasley Road & Hollingsworth Way 4 Hollingsworth Way (middle) 5 Cnr. Hollingsworth Way & Roe Hwy Footpath 6 Roe Highway Footpath (middle) 7 Cnr. Roe Hwy & Dundee Street 8 Dundee Street (middle) 9 Cluelow Rise (cul-de-sac) 10 Harwood Rise (on elbow) 11 Capill Corner (cul-de-sac) 12 Noreat Place SMRC RRRC FAOA Compliance_August 2012

30 Distribution of Panel Members: Measurement Point 1 (P-1), (P-3) Measurement Point 2 (P-2), (P-4) Measurement Point 3 (P-3), (P-1) Measurement Point 4 (P-4), (P-2) Measurement Point 5 (P-1), (P-3) Measurement Point 6 (P-2), (P-4) Measurement Point 7 (P-3), (P-1) Measurement Point 8 (P-4), (P-2) Measurement Point 9 (P-1), (P-3) Measurement Point 10 (P-2), (P-4) Measurement Point 11 (P-3), (P-1) Measurement Point 12 (P-4), (P-2) Number of Single Measurements: 24 Total Number of Odour Samples: 1,440 Odour Key Descriptors (Quality): A - Dry Cut Grass, Tobacco (GWF origin) B - Moist Soil, Garden Compost (WCF Bio s 1 & 2) C Cool, Pine-Solvent, Garden Compost (WCF Bio s 3 & 4) D Fruity Cake, Rich Fermented (WCF Aeration Building) Start Time of FAOA Survey: 5PM Odour Intensity Criterion: 2 Percentage Odour Time Criterion: 20% of Total Odour Samples defines an Odour Impact SMRC RRRC FAOA Compliance_August 2012

31 ODOUR SOURCE DETAILS Operational Processes underway at RRRC: The SMRC RRRC had ceased GWF operations by 3:30PM; All incoming deliveries of MSW had ceased by 4:00PM; The SMRC RRRC WCF was turning windrows inside the aeration building; The aeration building was full; No mobile plant was in operation outside of the aeration building; All four biofilters and their corresponding fans/scrubbers were in operation. SMRC Citec Starting Time of FAOA Survey. Biofilter Cell Fan Operational Rate Fan Hertz Fan Amps Fan Back Pressures Fan Humidity into Cell Airstream Temperature into Cell (%) (H) (A) (Pa) %RH 0 C Site Plan and Location of Odour Key Descriptors: See below. SMRC RRRC FAOA Compliance_August 2012

32 B - Moist Soil, Garden Compost (WCF Biofilter 1 origin) B - Moist Soil, Garden Compost (WCF Biofilter 2 origin) D - Fruity Cake, Rich Fermented (WCF Aeration Building) C - Cool, Pine-Solvent, Garden Compost (WCF Biofilter 3 origin) C - Cool, Pine-Solvent, Garden Compost (WCF Biofilter 4 origin) A - Dry Cut Grass, Tobacco (GWF origin) SMRC RRRC FAOA Compliance_August 2012

33 FAOA SURVEY RESULTS Ambient Weather Conditions during FAOA Survey Measurement Point Panel Member Measurement Start Temperature Wind Direction Start Wind Velocity Start Wind Direction Stop Wind Velocity Stop ID (hrs) ( 0 C) degrees m/s direction m/s 1 P P P-3-4 P-4 5 P P P-3-8 P-4 9 P P P-3-12 P-4 1 P-3 2 P P P-2 5 P-3 6 P P P-2 9 P-3 10 P P P-2 SMRC RRRC FAOA Compliance_August 2012

34 Summary of Odour Intensity Findings per Measurement Point P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P s % Odour Time Average Measurement Point Odour Impact? YES YES NO NO 0 0 NO 0 0 NO NO 0 0 NO 0 0 NO 0 0 NO 0 0 NO 0 0 NO SMRC RRRC FAOA Compliance_August 2012

35 SMRC RRRC FAOA Compliance_August 2012 The Odour Unit (WA) Pty Limited

36 DISCUSSION OF FAOA SURVEY RESULTS The SMRC RRRC FAOA Survey undertaken on August 6 th 2012 in Assessment Area 1 under an Easterly Wind Origin showed that only two measurement points were considered as odour impacted since their respective percentage odour times exceeded the criterion of 20% or greater for odour intensity observations of 2. All four panel members noted that the key odour descriptor (odour quality) was C, which reflects a Cool, Pine-Solvent, Garden Compost odour character related to the WCF Biofilters 3 & 4. No other key odour descriptor was experienced. Given the findings it is the WCF Biofilters 3 & 4 that have emitted odours considered to have impacted in the adjacent residential assessment area 1, specifically at measurement locations 1 and 2. No notable key performance indicators for the biofilters were observed. Such indicators are: High fan back pressures o resulting in lost negative pressure upstream (fugitive odours) o resulting in preferential pathways in the biofilter bed Low inlet-to-biofilter humidity o resulting in biofilter bed drying out and resultant dry tracking of odour; High inlet-to-biofilter temperatures o resulting in biofilter bed drying out and resultant dry tracking of odour; Fan operational rate o High rate may cause an overload of the odour loadings SMRC RRRC FAOA Compliance_August 2012

37 APPENDIX A FAOA FIELD-DATA SHEETS

38 FAOA - Field Data Record Sheet (Odour Intensity & Quality) Name: Member ID: P-1 Assessment Area: Measurement Point: 1 Measurement Point: 3 Measurement Point: 5 Start: End: Start: End: Start: End: min min-1 min-1 min min-2 min-2 min min-3 min-3 min min-4 min-4 min min-5 min-5 min min-6 min-6 min min-7 min-7 min min-8 min-8 min min-9 min-9 min min-10 min-10 Key Odour Descriptor(s): (circle one or more) A B A B A B Key Odour Descriptor(s): Key Odour Descriptor(s): C D (circle one or more) C D (circle one or more) C D Measurement Point: 7 Measurement Point: 9 Measurement Point: 11 Start: End: Start: End: Start: End: min-1 min-1 min-1 min-2 min-2 min-2 min-3 min-3 min-3 min-4 min-4 min-4 min-5 min-5 min-5 min-6 min-6 min-6 min-7 min-7 min-7 min-8 min-8 min-8 min-9 min-9 min-9 min-10 min-10 min-10 Key Odour Descriptor(s): (circle one or more) A B A B A B Key Odour Descriptor(s): Key Odour Descriptor(s): C D (circle one or more) C D (circle one or more) C D Key Odour Descriptors: A = Dry Cut Grass, Tobacco (GWF) B = Moist Soil, Garden Compost (WCF - Bio's 1 & 2) C = Cool, Pine-Solvent, Garden Compost (WCF - Bio's 3 & 4) D = Fruity Cake, Rich Fermented (WCF - Aeration Building) - Method Reference: German Standard VDI 3940