2012 Air Quality Updating and Screening Assessment for Worcester City Council

Transcription

1 2012 Air Quality Updating and Screening Assessment for Worcester City Council In fulfillment of Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 Local Air Quality Management July 2012

2 Local Authority Officer Mark Cox Department Pollution Worcestershire Regulatory Services Address PO Box 866 Worcester WR1 3DP Telephone Report Reference PBA26797/WorcUSA2012 number Date July 2012 LAQM USA 2012 i

3 Executive Summary This report presents the findings of Worcester City Council s Updating and Screening Assessment (USA) of air quality within the city. The USA evaluates new and changed sources to identify those that may give rise to a risk of an exceedence of an air quality objective. Results from monitoring within the city are also presented and evaluated in relation to the objectives; the likelihood of an exceedence at relevant locations is discussed, as is the requirement to proceed to a Detailed Assessment. Previous Review and Assessments have concluded that concentrations of carbon monoxide, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, lead, sulphur dioxide and PM 10 are compliant with the relevant objectives. Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) have however been declared at three locations for exceedences of the annual mean nitrogen dioxide objective. Monitoring data for 2011 show that there is the risk of exceedences of the annual mean nitrogen dioxide objective at two locations representative of relevant exposure outside of the existing AQMAs; these locations both lie within the City Wide AQMA which is currently under consultation. The USA has not identified any significant changes in emissions sources within the Worcester City Council area. LAQM USA 2012 ii

4 Table of contents 1 Introduction Description of Local Authority Area Purpose of Report Air Quality Objectives Summary of Previous Review and Assessments New Monitoring Data Summary of Monitoring Undertaken Automatic Monitoring Sites Non-Automatic Monitoring Sites Comparison of Monitoring Results with AQ Objectives Nitrogen Dioxide PM Sulphur Dioxide Benzene Other pollutants monitored Summary of Compliance with AQS Objectives Road Traffic Sources Narrow Congested Streets with Residential Properties Close to the Kerb Busy Streets Where People May Spend 1-hour or More Close to Traffic Roads with a High Flow of Buses and/or HGVs Junctions New Roads Constructed or Proposed Since the Last Round of Review and Assessment Roads with Significantly Changed Traffic Flows Bus and Coach Stations Other Transport Sources Airports Railways (Diesel and Steam Trains) Stationary Trains Moving Trains Ports (Shipping) Industrial Sources Industrial Installations New or Proposed Installations for which an Air Quality Assessment has been Carried Out Existing Installations where Emissions have Increased Substantially or New Relevant Exposure has been Introduced New or Significantly Changed Installations with No Previous Air Quality Assessment LAQM USA 2012 iii

5 5.2 Major Fuel (Petrol) Storage Depots Petrol Stations Poultry Farms Commercial and Domestic Sources Biomass Combustion Individual Installations Biomass Combustion Combined Impacts Domestic Solid-Fuel Burning Fugitive or Uncontrolled Sources Conclusions and Proposed Actions Conclusions from New Monitoring Data Conclusions from Assessment of Sources Proposed Actions References List of Tables Table 1.1 Air Quality Objectives included in Regulations for the purpose of LAQM in England Table 2.1 Details of Nitrogen Dioxide Diffusion Tube Monitoring Sites Table 2.2 Results of Nitrogen Dioxide Diffusion Tubes in 2011 (Bias Adjusted) Table 2.3 Results of Nitrogen Dioxide Diffusion Tubes, 2006 to 2011 (Bias Adjusted) Table 6.1: Boiler Data used in the Screening Assessment Table 6.2: Target Emission Rates from Biomass Calculator List of Figures Figure 1.1 Current AQMA Boundaries Figure 2.1 Non-Automatic Monitoring Sites Figure 2.2 Trends in Annual Mean Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations measured at Diffusion Tube Sites in Worcester City Appendices Appendix A: QA/QC of Monitoring Data Appendix B: Maps of Diffusion Tube Monitoring Sites LAQM USA 2012 iv

6 1 Introduction 1.1 Description of Local Authority Area Worcester City is located in the West Midlands within the County of Worcestershire. To the south lies Gloucestershire, to the east Warwickshire, to the north are Birmingham and Shropshire and to the west lie the Malvern Hills. The M5 motorway runs along the eastern and north-eastern boundaries of the City. The only industrial source within the city is JVM Metal Castings on Droitwich Road, which has a permit from the Environment Agency. 1.2 Purpose of Report This report fulfils the requirements of the Local Air Quality Management process as set out in Part IV of the Environment Act (1995), the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 2007 and the relevant Policy and Technical Guidance documents. The LAQM process places an obligation on all local authorities to regularly review and assess air quality in their areas, and to determine whether or not the air quality objectives are likely to be achieved. Where exceedences are considered likely, the local authority must then declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and prepare an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) setting out the measures it intends to put in place in pursuit of the objectives. The objective of this Updating and Screening Assessment is to identify any matters that have changed which may lead to risk of an air quality objective being exceeded. A checklist approach and screening tools are used to identify significant new sources or changes and whether there is a need for a Detailed Assessment. 1.3 Air Quality Objectives The air quality objectives applicable to LAQM in England are set out in the Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000 (SI 928), The Air Quality (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2002 (SI 3043), and are shown in Table 1.1. This table shows the objectives in units of microgrammes per cubic metre µg/m 3 (milligrammes per cubic metre, mg/m 3 for carbon monoxide) with the number of exceedences in each year that are permitted (where applicable). LAQM USA

7 Table 1.1 Air Quality Objectives included in Regulations for the purpose of LAQM in England Pollutant Benzene Air Quality Objective Concentration Measured as 16.25µg/m 3 Running annual mean Date to be achieved by µg/m 3 Annual mean ,3-Butadiene 2.25µg/m 3 Running annual mean Carbon monoxide 10.0mg/m 3 Running 8-hour mean Lead Nitrogen dioxide Particles (PM 10 ) (gravimetric) Sulphur dioxide µg/m 3 Annual mean µg/m 3 Annual mean µg/m 3 not to be exceeded more than 18 times a year 1-hour mean µg/m 3 Annual mean µg/m 3, not to be exceeded more than 35 times a year 24-hour mean µg/m 3 Annual mean µg/m 3, not to be exceeded more than 24 times a year 125µg/m 3, not to be exceeded more than 3 times a year 266µg/m 3, not to be exceeded more than 35 times a year 1-hour mean hour mean minute mean LAQM USA

8 1.4 Summary of Previous Review and Assessments The first and second rounds of Review and Assessment did not identify any exceedences of the air quality objectives within Worcester. The 2007 Progress Report (Worcester City Council, 2007), however, identified possible exceedences at the following diffusion tube monitoring locations: Bridge Street/Dolday in the city centre; Lowesmoor/Rainbow Hill (B4550); A44 Whittington Road; and B4636 Newtown Road. A Detailed Assessment was consequently undertaken in 2008 (Worcester City Council, 2008) which concluded that exceedences of the annual mean nitrogen dioxide objective were likely at relevant locations adjacent to three of the four monitoring locations, with the exception being Whittington Road. Three Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) were therefore declared at the following locations: Bridge Street/Dolday; Lowesmoor/Rainbow Hill; and Newtown Road. Further Assessments of these AQMAs were completed in 2010 (Worcester City Council, 2010a). The conclusions were that: The Bridge Street/Dolday AQMA should be extended slightly to include additional properties along Deansway; The Lowesmoor/Rainbow Hill AQMA should be extended to include, as a minimum, all relevant locations to the north along Astwood Road; and The Newtown Road AQMA should be revoked. The 2009 Updating and Screening Assessment (Worcester City Council, 2009) identified potential exceedences of the annual mean nitrogen dioxide in the St Johns area of the city. A Detailed Assessment was completed in 2010, which concluded that an AQMA should be declared. The 2010 Progress Report (Worcester City Council, 2010b) also identified the need to progress to a Detailed Assessment for nitrogen dioxide at the Foregate Street/Shaw Street junction. A consultation has recently been carried out regarding the declaration of a City Wide AQMA, which would encompass both these areas, with a final decision to be made in November LAQM USA

9 Should the decision be made to declare a City Wide AQMA, it will not be necessary to carry out an additional Detailed Assessment, and instead a Further Assessment will be carried out to inform the Action Plan. A Steering Group is currently being set up to develop the Action Plan once the decision has been made. If a City Wide AQMA is not considered appropriate, additional AQMAs / Detailed Assessments will be prepared as necessary. The 2011 Progress Report did not identify any additional areas or sources requiring consideration. Figure 1.1 Current AQMA Boundaries Contains Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database right [2012] LAQM USA

10 2 New Monitoring Data 2.1 Summary of Monitoring Undertaken Automatic Monitoring Sites Worcester City Council operated an automatic monitoring station at Dolday in the city centre from 2006 until Data capture was low and therefore the site closed in 2008; there are currently no automatic monitoring sites within the Worcester City area Non-Automatic Monitoring Sites During 2011, Worcester City Council monitored annual mean nitrogen dioxide concentrations using passive diffusion tubes at seventeen locations across its area (Figure 2.1). Table 2.1 provides details of each of the monitoring sites, along with details of sites which have been discontinued in recent years but for which data are available. The diffusion tubes are prepared and analysed by Gradko using the 20% TEA in water method. Tubes are changed on a monthly basis. Further details of the diffusion tube QA/QC is presented in Appendix A. More detailed maps are provided in Appendix B. LAQM USA

11 Figure 2.1 Non-Automatic Monitoring Sites Contains Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database right [2012] LAQM USA

12 Table 2.1 Details of Nitrogen Dioxide Diffusion Tube Monitoring Sites Site Name Site Type X OS Grid Reference Y OS Grid Reference In AQMA? Relevant Exposure? Distance to kerb of nearest road Does this location represent worst-case exposure? Bridge Street Roadside Y Y(5m) 1m Y Bromwich Road Kerbside N Y(20m) 1m Y King Charles Place Kerbside N Y(1m) 1m Y McIntrye Road Urban Background N Y(8m) 1m n/a Henwick Road Kerbside N Y(15m) 1m Y Ambirack Roadside N Y(30m) 1m Y Castle Street Roadside N Y(6m) 1m N Droitwich Road Kerbside N N 2m Y Bilford Road Kerbside N N 1m Y Windermere Drive Kerbside N Y(13m) 2m Y Astwood Road (original) Urban Background N N 1m n/a Astwood Road 1 Kerbside N N 1m Y Astwood Road 2 Kerbside Y Y(4m) 2m Y Lowesmoor Estate Kerbside Y N n/a N Lowesmoor Crossing Kerbside Y Y(6m) 1m Y Plantation Drive Kerbside N Y(20m) 1m Y Larkhill Road Roadside N Y(10m) 1m Y Whittington Road Kerbside N Y(20m) 5m Y Abbotsbury Court Kerbside N N 1m Y Ketch Roadside N N 5m N Bath Road Kerbside N N 1m Y Sidbury Kerbside N N 1m Y Barbourne Road Roadside N N 3m Y Newtown Road 1 Kerbside Y N 1m Y Newtown Road 2 Kerbside Y N 2m Y St Johns Kerbside N N 2m Y Newtown Road Kerbside Y Y(10m) 1m Y Astwood Road 3 Kerbside Y Y(6m) 1m Y St Martins Gate Kerbside N N 1m N Guildhall Urban Background N N n/a n/a Foregate St Kerbside N Y(1m) 2m Y Lowesmoor 1 Kerbside Y Y(1m) 1m Y Lowesmoor 2 Roadside Y Y(2m) 2m Y LAQM USA

13 2.2 Comparison of Monitoring Results with AQ Objectives Nitrogen Dioxide Diffusion Tube Monitoring Data Worcester City Council Measured concentrations at the 17 diffusion tube monitoring sites in 2011 are presented in Table 2.2. Concentrations since 2006, at all sites where monitoring data are available, are presented in Table 2.3. Data capture for a number of the diffusion tube sites was below 75%, and these data have been annualised following guidance in LAQM.TG(09). Further details are presented in Appendix A. The national bias adjustment factor has been applied to the diffusion tube data. Further details are provided in Appendix A. Exceedences of the annual mean objective were measured at seven sites during 2011, four of which are outside of existing AQMAs. The sites measuring exceedences outside of the existing AQMAs are: Castle Street Sidbury St Johns Foregate Street The Castle Street diffusion tube has measured exceedences of the annual mean objective since The closest relevant exposure is approximately 5m from the monitoring site. Using the fall off with distance calculator, an estimate of the concentration at the façade of the closest property can be made. In 2011, the estimated concentration at the closest property is 32.7µg/m 3. From May 2012, this tube has been relocated to the façade of 925 The Tything, where residential exposure exists at first floor level. The Sidbury site is not representative of relevant exposure, as it is located in the middle of the road. This tube will be relocated to more accurately represent relevant exposure. From May 2012, three new tubes have been deployed on London Road where it meets Sidbury. Data will be reported in the 2013 Progress Report. The need for an AQMA at the St Johns site was identified in the 2010 Detailed Assessment, and an AQMA will be declared at this location pending the outcome of the decision to be taken by Worcester City Council, following the consultation regarding the declaration of a City Wide AQMA, in November LAQM USA

14 The Foregate Street diffusion tube is located within 1m of relevant exposure, and has measured concentrations well in excess of the annual mean objective. A Detailed Assessment at this location is on hold, pending the outcome of the consultation regarding the declaration of a City Wide AQMA, which is soon to be concluded. Concentrations continue to exceed the annual mean objective within the Bridge Street/Dolday and Lowesmoor/Rainbow Hill AQMAs; in the Newtown Road AQMA, there have not been any measured exceedences since 2007, supporting the findings of the 2010 Further Assessment and the intention to revoke this AQMA. Concentrations have reduced in 2011 relative to 2010 concentrations at all but one monitoring location. Figure 2.2 presents data for those sites where at least five years of data are available. Overall, between 2006 and 2011, concentrations have remained fairly stable at all long-term sites, excluding Castle Street, where there was a significant increase between 2008 and LAQM USA

15 Table 2.2 Results of Nitrogen Dioxide Diffusion Tubes in 2011 (Bias Adjusted) Site Name Site Type Within AQMA? Data 2011 Annual Mean Concentration Capture (Months) (µg/m 3 ) a Bridge Street Roadside Y King Charles Place Kerbside N McIntrye Road Urban Background N Ambirack Roadside N b Castle Street Roadside N Astwood Road 1 Kerbside N Astwood Road 2 Kerbside Y Whittington Road Kerbside N Bath Road Kerbside N Sidbury Kerbside N Barbourne Road Roadside N Newtown Road 1 Kerbside Y St Johns Kerbside N Astwood Road 3 Kerbside Y Foregate St Kerbside N Lowesmoor 1 Kerbside Y Lowesmoor 2 Roadside Y Objective 40 a Where data capture is less than 9 months, the concentration presented has been annualised. See Appendix A for further details. b Average of two co-located tubes. LAQM USA

16 Table 2.3 Results of Nitrogen Dioxide Diffusion Tubes, 2006 to 2011 (Bias Adjusted) Worcester City Council Site Name Site Type In AQMA? Annual Mean Concentration (µg/m 3 ) 2006 [0.98] 2007 [0.89] 2008 [0.92] 2009 [0.90] 2010 [0.92] 2011 [0.89] Bridge Street Roadside Y Bromwich Road Kerbside N King Charles Place Kerbside N McIntrye Road Urban N Background Henwick Road Kerbside N Ambirack Roadside N Castle Street Roadside N Droitwich Road Kerbside N Bilford Road Kerbside N Windermere Drive Kerbside N Astwood Road Urban N (original) Background Astwood Road 1 Kerbside N Astwood Road 2 Kerbside Y Lowesmoor Estate Kerbside Y Lowesmoor Crossing Kerbside Y Plantation Drive Kerbside N Larkhill Road Roadside N Whittington Road Kerbside N Abbotsbury Court Kerbside N Ketch Roadside N Bath Road Kerbside N Sidbury Kerbside N Barbourne Road Roadside N Newtown Road 1 Kerbside Y Newtown Road 2 Kerbside Y St Johns Kerbside N Newtown Road Kerbside Y Astwood Road 3 Kerbside Y St Martins Gate Kerbside N Guildhall Urban N Background Foregate St Kerbside N Lowesmoor 1 Kerbside Y Lowesmoor 2 Roadside Y Objective LAQM USA

17 Figure 2.2 Trends in Annual Mean Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations measured at Diffusion Tube Sites in Worcester City LAQM USA

18 2.2.2 PM 10 PM 10 is not monitored within the Worcester City Council area Sulphur Dioxide Sulphur Dioxide is not monitored within the Worcester City Council area Benzene Benzene is not monitored within the Worcester City Council area Other pollutants monitored No other pollutants are monitored within the Worcester City Council area. LAQM USA

19 2.2.6 Summary of Compliance with AQS Objectives Worcester City Council has examined the results from monitoring within the city. Concentrations outside of the existing AQMAs are below the objectives at locations of relevant exposure, apart from at St Johns and Foregate Street. These locations have been previously identified as requiring an AQMA / Detailed Assessment. Should a City Wide AQMA be declared following consultation in June 2012, the sites will be encompassed in the new AQMA. Should the City Wide AQMA not be declared, an AQMA will be declared at St Johns consistent with the findings of the 2010 DA, and a DA will be carried out for Foregate Street. LAQM USA

20 3 Road Traffic Sources 3.1 Narrow Congested Streets with Residential Properties Close to the Kerb Bridge Street has been identified within previous Review and Assessment reports as meeting the criteria for narrow congested streets. This location lies within the Bridge Street/Dolday AQMA. No additional narrow congested streets have been identified or created within the Worcester CC area. Worcester City Council confirms that there are no new/newly identified congested streets with a flow above 5,000 vehicles per day and residential properties close to the kerb, that have not been adequately considered in previous rounds of Review and Assessment. 3.2 Busy Streets Where People May Spend 1-hour or More Close to Traffic The criteria for assessing busy streets relevant for the hourly nitrogen dioxide objective are set out in Section A.2 of Box 5.3, LAQM.TG(09) and are unchanged from previous rounds of Review and Assessment. Busy streets where people may spend 1-hour or more close to traffic were considered in previous Updating and Screening Assessments, and no new locations have subsequently been identified. Worcester City Council confirms that there are no new/newly identified busy streets where people may spend 1 hour or more close to traffic. 3.3 Roads with a High Flow of Buses and/or HGVs. The criteria for assessing roads with high flows of buses and/ or HGVs are set out in Section A.3 of Box 5.3, LAQM.TG(09) and are unchanged from previous rounds of Review and Assessment. Roads with high flows of buses and/or HGVs were considered in previous Updating and Screening Assessments, and no new locations have subsequently been identified. Worcester City Council confirms that there are no new/newly identified roads with high flows of buses/hgvs. LAQM USA

21 3.4 Junctions The criteria for assessing junctions are set out in Section A.4 of Box 5.3, LAQM.TG(09) and are unchanged from previous rounds of Review and Assessment. Busy junctions were considered in previous Updating and Screening Assessments, and Bridge Street was identified as requiring consideration. This location lies within the Bridge Street/Dolday AQMA. No new locations have subsequently been identified. Worcester City Council confirms that there are no new/newly identified busy junctions/busy roads. 3.5 New Roads Constructed or Proposed Since the Last Round of Review and Assessment The criteria for assessing new roads are set out in Section A.5 of Box 5.3, LAQM.TG(09) and are unchanged from previous rounds of Review and Assessment. A consultation with Worcestershire County Council Highways has confirmed that there have been no major new roads constructed or proposed since the 2009 Updating and Screening Assessment. Worcester City Council confirms that there are no new/proposed roads. 3.1 Roads with Significantly Changed Traffic Flows The criteria for assessing roads with significant increases in traffic flows are set out in Section A.6 of Box 5.3, LAQM.TG(09) and are unchanged from previous rounds of Review and Assessment. A consultation with Worcestershire County Council Highways has confirmed that there have been no significant changes to traffic flows on existing roads in the City. Worcester City Council confirms that there are no new/newly identified roads with significantly changed traffic flows. LAQM USA

22 3.2 Bus and Coach Stations The criteria for assessing bus and coach stations are set out in Section A.7 of Box 5.3, LAQM.TG(09). Previous Updating and Screening Assessments have concluded that there are no bus stations within the City with more than 2,500 daily movements or with relevant exposure within 10m; the largest bus station in the city centre generates approximately 600 movements per day. Worcester City Council has confirmed that there have been no significant changes. Worcester City Council confirms that there are no relevant bus stations in the Local Authority area. LAQM USA

23 4 Other Transport Sources 4.1 Airports The criteria for assessing airports are set out in Section B.1 of Box 5.4, LAQM.TG(09). There are no airports within the Worcester City area. Worcester City Council confirms that there are no airports in the Local Authority area. 4.2 Railways (Diesel and Steam Trains) The criteria for assessing railways (diesel and steam trains) are set out in Section B.2 of Box 5.4, LAQM.TG(09) Stationary Trains The 2009 Updating and Screening Assessment did not identify any locations where diesel locomotives were stationary for more than 15 minutes on a regular basis. There has been no change to this position. Worcester City Council confirms that there are no locations where diesel or steam trains are regularly stationary for periods of 15 minutes or more, with potential for relevant exposure within 15m Moving Trains None of the rail lines identified in Table 5.1 of LAQM.TG(09) as carrying large numbers of movements of diesel locomotives travel through Worcester. Worcester City Council confirms that there are no locations with a large number of movements of diesel locomotives, and potential long-term relevant exposure within 30m. LAQM USA

24 4.3 Ports (Shipping) The criteria for assessing ports (shipping) are set out in Section B.3 of Box 5.4, LAQM.TG(09). Worcester City is located inland and there is therefore no significant shipping to consider. Worcester City Council confirms that there are no ports or shipping that meet the specified criteria within the Local Authority area. LAQM USA

25 5 Industrial Sources 5.1 Industrial Installations New or Proposed Installations for which an Air Quality Assessment has been Carried Out The criteria for assessing industrial installations are set out in Section C.1 of Box 5.5, LAQM.TG(09) and are unchanged from previous rounds of Review and Assessment. There have been no new industrial installations within the Worcester City Council area since the 2009 USA was completed, and there are currently no proposals for any significant installations. Worcester City Council confirms that there are no new or proposed industrial installations for which planning approval has been granted within its area Existing Installations where Emissions have Increased Substantially or New Relevant Exposure has been Introduced Worcester City Council is not aware of any industrial installations which have significantly increased their emissions, and no new exposure has been introduced nearby to any existing installations. Data provided by the Environment Agency for the period 2008 to 2010 confirms that there were no significant changes to emissions from Part A installations which they regulate within the Worcestershire area. Worcester City Council confirms that there are no industrial installations with substantially increased emissions or new relevant exposure in their vicinity within its area or nearby in a neighbouring authority New or Significantly Changed Installations with No Previous Air Quality Assessment There have been no new industrial installations within the Worcester City Council area since the 2009 USA was completed, and there are currently no proposals for any significant installations. LAQM USA

26 Worcester City Council confirms that there are no new or proposed industrial installations for which planning approval has been granted within its area or nearby in a neighbouring authority. 5.2 Major Fuel (Petrol) Storage Depots The criteria for assessing major fuel (petrol) storage depots are set out in Section C.2 of Box 5.5, LAQM.TG(09) and are unchanged from previous rounds of Review and Assessment. Previous Review and Assessment reports have not identified any major fuel storage depots; Worcester City Council has confirmed that this continues to be the case. Worcester City Council confirms that there are no major fuel (petrol) storage depots within the Local Authority area. 5.3 Petrol Stations The criteria for assessing petrol stations are set out in Section C.3 of Box 5.5, LAQM.TG(09) and are unchanged from previous rounds of Review and Assessment. Worcester City Council confirmed in the 2009 USA that there are no petrol stations next to busy roads with more than 30,000 vehicles per day. Since then, no new petrol stations have been installed. Worcester City Council confirms that there are no petrol stations meeting the specified criteria. 5.4 Poultry Farms The criteria for assessing poultry farms are set out in Section C.4 of Box 5.5, LAQM.TG(09); this was a new consideration for the 2009 Updating and Screening Assessment. The 2009 USA stated that there were no poultry farms within the city; this position remains unchanged. Worcester City Council confirms that there are no poultry farms within the Worcester City area. LAQM USA

27 6 Commercial and Domestic Sources 6.1 Biomass Combustion Individual Installations The criteria for assessing biomass combustion (individual installations) are set out in Section D.1a of Box 5.8, LAQM.TG(09). Since the 2009 USA, a biomass boiler has been installed at Fort Royal Primary School. An additional boiler is proposed for The Hive (new County Library), in the city centre, adjacent to the Dolday AQMA. The biomass calculator 1 was used to calculate the target emission rates for the two biomass boilers. The boiler data used are presented in Table 6.1, whilst the calculated Target Emission Rates are presented in Table 6.2. Background concentrations have been taken from the national maps provided on the UK-Air website 2. The emission rates do not exceed the Target Emission Rates for nitrogen dioxide or PM 10, and therefore it is not necessary to proceed to a Detailed Assessment for either biomass boiler. Table 6.1 Boiler Data used in the Screening Assessment Boiler Location Building Height (m) Stack Diameter (m) Stack Height (m) Background Concentration (µg/m 3 ) Emission Rates (g/s) PM 10 NO 2 PM 10 NO 2 Fort Royal The Hive Table 6.2 Target Emission Rates from Biomass Calculator Boiler Location PM 10 Daily Mean Target Emission Rate (g/s) Detailed Assessment Required? Nitrogen Dioxide Annual Target Emission Rate (g/s) Mean Detailed Assessment Required? Nitrogen Dioxide Hourly Target Emission Rate (g/s) Mean Detailed Assessment Required? Fort Royal No No No The Hive No No No Worcester City Council has assessed the biomass combustion plant, and concluded that it will not be necessary to proceed to a Detailed Assessment. 1 Available at: LAQM USA

28 6.2 Biomass Combustion Combined Impacts The criteria for assessing biomass combustion (combined impacts) are set out in Section D.1b of Box 5.8, LAQM.TG(09). The estimated average PM 10 background concentration in Worcester in 2012 is 15.2µg/m 3 (range µg/m 3 ). Using the nomograms provided in TG(09) and data provided in Table 5.3, and assuming a worst-case background of 19µg/m 3 in a small town, emissions of at least 6000 kg PM 10 per year would be required in a square 500m by 500m in order for this type of emission source to be likely to lead to exceedence of the UK daily mean objective for PM 10. This is equivalent to over 200 households within a 500m by 500m grid square all burning wood in fireplaces as their primary fuel. Alternatively, there would need to be a minimum of 26,350m 2 of commercial floorspace (approximately equivalent to 10 large supermarkets) heated by biomass boilers within a 500m by 500m grid square all using wood as their primary fuel. Using this fact, and the findings of previous Review and Assessment reports, it is considered highly unlikely that there are any areas of biomass combustion exceeding these criteria. Worcester City Council confirms that there are unlikely to be combined impacts from biomass combustion in the Local Authority area. 6.3 Domestic Solid-Fuel Burning The criteria for assessing domestic solid-fuel burning are set out in Section D.2 of Box 5.8, LAQM.TG(09) and are unchanged from previous Review and Assessments. The 2009 USA concluded that there were no areas of significant domestic coal or smokeless fuel burning. There has not been a significant increase in domestic solidfuel burning. Worcester City Council confirms that there are no areas of significant domestic fuel use in the Local Authority area. LAQM USA

29 7 Fugitive or Uncontrolled Sources The criteria for assessing fugitive or uncontrolled sources are set out in Section E.1 of Box 5.10, LAQM.TG(09) and are unchanged from previous Review and Assessments. The 2009 USA concluded that there were no quarries, landfill site, opencast mines or facilities for the handling of dusty cargo within the Worcester city area. There are no new permanent sources, there are however three large construction sites. The first is located within the city centre adjacent to the Lowesmoor/Rainbow Hill AQMA and is associated with the construction of a mixeduse development including a foodstore, hotel, gym and commercial uses; the second is associated with the residential development of the former Kays site on Bransford Road, and the third is the residential development at 202 Bransford Road. All have mitigation measures employed to minimise impacts, as set out in site specific Codes of Construction Practice. No dust complaints have been received regarding dust generated by these construction sites. Worcester City Council confirms that there are no permanent potential sources of fugitive particulate matter emissions in the Local Authority area. LAQM USA

30 8 Conclusions and Proposed Actions 8.1 Conclusions from New Monitoring Data Two monitoring sites representing relevant exposure outside of existing AQMAs have measured exceedences of the annual mean nitrogen dioxide objective in These locations have been previously identified, and lie within the City Wide AQMA proposed. A consultation on the adoption of a City Wide AQMA is currently underway. Depending on the outcome of the consultation, these sites will either lie within the newly declared City Wide AQMA, or in line with recent findings, an AQMA will be declared for the St Johns area and a Detailed Assessment will be carried out for the Foregate Street area. The Sidbury site is not representative of relevant exposure, as it is located in the middle of the road. This tube will be relocated to a more representative location. 8.2 Conclusions from Assessment of Sources The Updating and Screening Assessment has not identified any significant changes to emissions sources within the Worcester City Council area that will lead to a deterioration in air quality. There have been no new or significantly altered industrial processes, road, transport, commercial, domestic or fugitive sources of emissions for which more Detailed Assessment is required. 8.3 Proposed Actions Once a decision is made following the consultation into the City Wide AQMA, either a City Wide AQMA will be declared and a Further Assessment completed, or an AQMA will be declared in the St Johns area and a Detailed Assessment will be carried out for Foregate Street. Consideration will be given to relocating the Sidbury diffusion tube. A Progress Report will be submitted to Defra in April LAQM USA

31 9 References Defra (2009) Review & Assessment: Technical Guidance LAQM.TG(09), available at: s/tech-guidance-laqm-tg-09.pdf Defra (2012) Data Archive, available at: Worcester City Council (2007). Air Quality Progress Report Available at: Quality/Worcester_City_Council_PR07_FINAL.pdf Worcester City Council (2008). Detailed Assessment Available at: Quality/Worcester_DA_-_Final.pdf Worcester City Council (2009) Updating and Screening Assessment, Worcester City Council, June Worcester City Council (2010a). Detailed Assessment of Air Quality at St. Johns and Further Assessment of Air Quality in the Bridge Street/Dolday, Lowesmoor/Rainbow Hill and Newtown Road: Worcester City Council, August Worcester City Council (2010b). Progress Report 2010: Worcester City Council, July Worcester City Council (2011). Progress Report 2011: Worcester City Council, January LAQM USA

32 Appendices Appendix A: QA/QC of Diffusion Tube Data Appendix B: Maps of Diffusion Tube Monitoring Sites LAQM USA

33 Appendix A: QA/QC of Diffusion Tube Data Worcester City Council Diffusion Tube Bias Adjustment Factors The national bias adjustment factor for diffusion tubes supplied and analysed by Gradko, 20% TEA in water for 2011 is This factor is taken from spreadsheet version 03/12, and is based on 26 studies. WASP Gradko take part in the Workplace Analysis Scheme for Proficiency (WASP), operated by the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL). During 2011, on average, 84.4% of samples were determined to have been satisfactory (1st quarter: 100%; 2nd quarter: 100%; 3rd quarter: 100%, 4th quarter: 37.5%). Short-term to Long-term Data Adjustment (Annualisation) Where diffusion tubes were lost during the year, resulting in less than 9 months of data, the resulting period mean is not directly comparable to the objective. Therefore, in accordance with the guidance set out in Box 3.2 of LAQM.TG(09), the data have been adjusted to an annual mean, based on the ratio of concentrations during the short-term monitoring period to those over the 2011 calendar year. This has utilised data from five background sites operated as part of the Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN) where long-term data are available. The annual mean nitrogen dioxide concentrations and the period means for each of the five monitoring sites from which adjustment factors have been calculated are presented in the tables below, along with the Ratio applied. Feb April, July, Sept Nov (Astwood Road 3) Site Site Type Annual Mean Period Mean Ratio Aston Hill Rural Background Birmingham Urban Tyburn Background Coventry Urban Memorial Park Background Leamington Urban Spa Background Leominster Suburban Background Average LAQM USA

34 April May, Aug Dec (Newtown Road 1) Site Site Type Annual Mean Period Mean Ratio Aston Hill Rural Background Birmingham Urban Tyburn Background Coventry Urban Memorial Park Background Leamington Urban Spa Background Leominster Suburban Background Average LAQM USA

35 Appendix B: Maps of Diffusion Tube Monitoring Sites Worcester City Council Contains Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database right [2012] LAQM USA

36 Contains Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database right [2012] LAQM USA

37 Contains Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database right [2012] LAQM USA

38 Contains Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database right [2012] LAQM USA