Newlands Cross Upgrade EIS - European Investment Bank

South Dublin County Council N7 Newlands Cross Upgrade
Environmental Impact Statement
3.10 Air Quality & Climate
Arup Consulting Engineers
An Air Quality and Climate assessment of the two options was conducted by Arup water
specialists. The following sections outline their findings with regard to the impacts of both
options on water resources in and around Newlands Cross.
3.10.1 Introduction
The likely impact on ambient air quality associated with the various options proposed for the
Newlands Cross Upgrade is assessed in this section of the report. The assessment focuses on
traffic related pollutants - nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10).
3.10.2 Air Quality Standards and Other Relevant Guidance
The Air Quality Standards Regulations 2002 (S.I. No. 271 of 2002) establish the limit values
in Ireland for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10). These regulations are
based on the EU Directives 1999/30/EC and 2000/69/EC. The limit values relevant to this
assessment are shown in Table 3.8 below.
Since these directives were issued the EU has proposed the Directive of the European
Parliament and of the Council on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe (2005) 5 .
The most significant change recommended in this proposed Directive is the replacement of the
indicative Stage 2 limit values for PM10 (20μg/m 3 ) with the Stage 1 limit of 40μg/m 3 . The
limits specified in the proposed Directive are included in Table 3.8.
Table 3.8: Irish AQS Regulations 2002 (No. 271 of 2002) and Other Relevant Guidance
Pollutant
NO2
PM10
Limit value
for the
protection of:
human health
human health
a: Air Quality Standard, 2002
b: Proposed Directive, 2005
Averaging
period
Limit
value
(μg/m 3 )
1-hour 200
Basis of
application of
limit value
≤18 exceedances
p.a. (99.79 %ile)
Limit value
attainment date
1 January 2010
Calendar year 40 Annual mean 1 January 2010
24-hours 50
≤7 exceedances
p.a. (98.08 %ile)
Calendar year 20 a /40 b Annual mean
1 January 2010
(Stage 2)
1 January 2010
(Stage 2)
There are no national or EU limits for dust deposition. However, the TA Luft Technical
Instructions on Air Quality (2001) 6 provide a guideline for the rate of dust deposition of
350mg/m 2 /day averaged over one month. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
concurs, in the document “Environmental Management Guidelines. Environmental
Management in the Extractive Industry (Non-Scheduled Minerals)” (2006) 7 , that this
guideline may be applied.
3.10.3 Description of Scheme
Two options are proposed for the Newlands Cross Upgrade – overpass and underpass.
The overpass option would result in the Naas Road (N7) being elevated over the existing level
of the road. The Fonthill / Belgard Road (R113) would remain at the level at which they are
presently. This would result in the mainline N7 creating a bridge over the Fonthill / Belgard
Road (R113). The opening year for this option would be 2010.
December 2007 Page 36