View - North East Lincolnshire Council

BOC Immingham Dissolved Acetylene Project Environmental Statement: Vol. 2 Main Text
6.25 The EA provides criteria for use in air quality risk assessments in their Horizontal Guidance Note
H1 25 . This gives long-term and short-term Environmental Assessment Levels (EALs) for numerous
substances, many of which do not have statutory criteria. These environmental benchmarks
provide an indication of the concentration that can be considered to be acceptable for a particular
substance. All of the pollutants considered in this study, with the exception of acetylene, are
included in H1 due to their potential effect on human health. These EALs have been derived from
Health and Safety Executive Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs). The EALs for specific
substances are referred to later in this Chapter in the Impact Assessment section.
Consultation
6.26 The Environmental Health Officer (EHO) at NELC was contacted for the latest information on
existing local air quality conditions in the vicinity of the development.
6.27 The EHO at North West Lincolnshire Council was consulted 26 regarding the potential for odour
emissions from the facility.
6.28 The Scoping Report 3 received the following comments regarding air quality, which have been
taken on board in the production of this Chapter:
� the EA provided guidance notes on undertaking scoping for environmental impact
assessment;
� NE welcomed the consideration of statutory ecological designations as part of the air
quality assessment and requested additional information regarding impacts on specific
habitats. The APIS website was suggested as a useful resource. A checklist was provided
which contained further information; and
� NELC’s Pollution Control Officer was satisfied that the scoping report covered all areas of
interest.
Other Data Sources
6.29 The assessment is based on the data and information presented in the Project description for the
development (Chapter 3). Road traffic data have been obtained from the transport assessment
(Chapter 12). All other data sources are discussed as and when relevant in the subsequent
Sections of this Chapter.
Assessment Methodology
Construction
Dust Emissions
6.30 There are no statutory national or European criteria relating to dust, nor is there a standard
methodology for the assessment of potential dust effects. The assessment of dust emissions
during construction is considered qualitatively, in the context of the overall scale and nature of the
development and the potential sensitivity of neighbouring land use (e.g. residential properties,
certain process industries, designated ecological sites).
6.31 Dust emissions from construction sites potentially arise from a range of diffuse sources and are
termed ‘fugitive emissions’ as they are not derived from a controlled or discrete source. Dust that
may deposit in the local area close to (i.e. within 100 m of) 27 a source of fugitive dust typically
comprises particles between 10 and 75 micrometers (µm) in diameter, with the larger size
particles settling to the ground within just a few tens of metres from the source. Small particles
settle more slowly over a larger area and therefore contribute relatively little to the general
ambient dust levels. Such particles are also more susceptible to being blown away. Excessive
accumulations of dust on exposed surfaces, particularly in residential locations, may cause a
perceived loss of amenity and give rise to public complaint.
5100935.404 Environmental Statement August 2011 74