(MERAF) for the Base Metals Smelting Sector - CCME

4.2.4. Australia
Air quality is controlled on a federal level with the National Environment
Protection Measure for Ambient Air Quality 137 . Table 37 shows the Australian
Ambient Air Quality Standards.
Table 37: Australian Ambient Air Quality Standards
Parameter
Sulphur Dioxide
Lead
Particles as PM 10
Maximum Concentration
0.20 ppm (1 hour)
0.08 ppm (1 day)
0.02 ppm (1 year)
0.50 µg/m 3 (1 year)
50 µg/m3 (1 day)
The Australian National Guideline for Control of Emission on Air Pollutants from
New Stationary Sources sets the following limits for particulate matter:
• Stack concentration - 100 mg/m 3 , and
• Opacity - 20%
The Guideline also set a limit for sulphur dioxide from “Any trade, industry or
process manufacturing sulphuric acid” as follows:
• 2.0 kg per tonne of 100% acid.
The various states and territories are responsible for the control of air pollution
from stationary sources. Each state has established industry specific air
emission standards. The Clean Air Regulation 1997 for the state of New South
Wales has been included as an example of typical Australian limits.
The state of New South Wales regulates emissions to air with the Clean Air
Regulation 1997 138 . This regulation limits the release of several parameters. The
following parameters with emission limits are relevant to the base metal smelting
industry:
• Sulphur (Table 38)– The sulphur regulations included below are for any
trade, industry or process manufacturing sulphuric acid otherwise than
from elemental sulphur.
137 National Environmental Protection Council National Environmental Protection Measure for
Ambient Air Quality, June 26, 1998
138 Clean Air (Plant and Equipment) Regulation 1997 under the Protection of the Environment
Operations Act 1997, New South Wales, July 1999. URL:
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/caaer1997352/
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