Implementation of the Environmental Action Programme for CEE
| Sofia Initiative |
|---|
| Local Air Pollution |
Bratislava, Slovakia; January 20-22, 1998
Submitted by the Secretariat
| Chair: | Secretariat: |
|
Bulgaria Dr. Dimitar Kantardjiev, Director General The National Center for Environment and Sustainable Development to the Ministry of Environment and Waters 136, Tzar Boris III blvd 1618 Sofia, Bulgaria Tel.: (359 2) 955 90 11 Fax: (359 2) 95590 15 E-mail: ncesd@online.bg |
Mr. Miroslav Chodák, Project Manager Mr. Mihail Staynov, Liaison Officer |
Introduction
1. The Workshop for Reducing SOx and Particulate Emissions
is one of components of the Sofia Initiative: Collaborative Programme
on Improving Local Air Quality in Central and Eastern Europe
(SILAQ). The workshop was organized by the Regional Environmental
Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), Local Office Bulgaria
and hosted by the REC, Local Office Slovakia.
2. The Workshop took place on 20-22 January 1998 in Bratislava,
Slovakia according to an agenda preliminary coordinated by SILAQ
Working Group members.
3. The goal of the Workshop was to exchange information on the
impact of airborne Sulfur and Particulate Matter and on the different
approaches to reducing SOx and particulate emissions.
4. The representatives of all SILAQ countries, as well as consultants
from Austria, Denmark, Germany, and USA were invited to participate.
The Workshop was attended by representatives from Bulgaria, Czech
Republic, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, and consultants from
Denmark, Germany and USA. For logistical reasons, the representatives
from other SILAQ countries (Hungary and Slovenia) were not able
to attend.
5. Different sessions of the Workshop were chaired by the different
SILAQ delegates in rotation. The participants were welcomed by
Mr. Vladimir Hudek, Local Representative of REC Slovakia, who
was responsible for the logistics of the Workshop.
Day One
6. The Chairman of the SILAQ Working Group - Dr.Dimitar Kantardjiev,
Bulgaria, opened the Workshop and welcomed all participants.
7. Ms. Petra Sanches, from the US EPA, led the session on the
consequences of particulate matter and sulfur on human health.
A general overview of scientific data illustrated a strong relationship
between high mortality rates with exposure to fine particulate
matter (PM 2.5) in both long and short term studies. The fine
particles cause more damage to human health because they are
more likely to be deposited into the lower cilia of the lungs,
as opposed to more coarse particles that are often emitted by
the respiratory system. Concerning SO2, the EPA concluded that
short-term peak concentrations do not constitute the type of
public health concern for which establishing national ambient
air quality standards would be appropriate. The presentation
was illustrated with specific data on research that was conducted
on mild asthmatics regarding the minimum amount of these substances
that would cause adverse health effects, criteria used, types
of sources, groups of recipients. (List of presentations, 1).
8. The session highlighting the adverse health effects that are
caused by these two pollutants was followed by a discussion which
brought up different specific points.
9. The World Bank's Approach to Air Quality Management was presented by Ms. Magda Lovei. The environmental sustainability is a focus of the World Bank, whose goal is to fund only those projects that result in no environmental damage. Since the Rio conference, the Bank has funded 24% win-win projects, 8% environmental projects, 52% environmentally neutral projects, and 16% of the funded projects do damage to the environment. In Central and Eastern Europe, pollution management is a main focus of the WB, and the strategy has shifted from funding end of pipe technologies to pollution prevention and flexible plans that focus on partnerships between government and industry. What are currently the most serious problems? According to the risk assessment studies:
10. Control Measures for Particulate Matter and Sulfur were presented
by Mr. James Yarbrough of the U.S. EPA. Among the first measures
that need to be taken when considering control measures for particulate
matter and sulfur is prioritizing the problems, emission inventorying,
and introducing dispersion models to estimate the amount of emissions
and the reduction needed. Most air models require source emissions
in grams/second, stack height, gas exit velocity, gas exit temperature,
and hourly meteorological data (wind direction, wind speed, atmospheric
mixing height, and atmospheric stability class). A good, conservative
air model to use is SCREEN. (an example of the air model is in
the hand-out and it gives specific values and statistics). The
Control Strategies for SO2 and PM were presented in five groups:
11. Country Reports of Bulgaria and Romania were presented by
the Working Group members. In Bulgaria pollution levels are close
to the previous year's. The power sector accounts for almost
85% of particulate and 84% of SO2 annual emissions in 1996. More
than a half from these SO2 emissions (approximately 51%) come
from the Maritza East Thermal power plants due to lack of abatement
equipment and an extremely high sulphur and ash content in the
local lignites which they are using. There is not a strategy
adopted but it is in a preparation phase and will be based on
the least cost approach, cost and benefit analysis and global
strategic directions (energy production, energy consumption and
fuels). An action plan will focus on EU accession and on the
implementation of the Clean Air Act and the Convention of LRTAP.
In Romania the short term and medium term targets are established
according to the LRTAP. Specific studies and measures, including
economic incentives, technical guidelines and standards, public
information and education, are included. (List of presentations,
4 and 5).
Day Two
12. The session concerned economic incentive programs that would
encourage industries to be more efficient in their pollution
control with the promise of financial benefit was presented by
Mr.Yarbrogh (USEPA). These programs include air pollution control
plans, marketable allowances, offsets program, netting, bubbles/alternative
RACT, Supplementary Environmental Projects (SEPs), and the clean
air investment fund. All of these programs are described in detail
in the handout distributed by Mr.Yarbrogh. (List of presentations,
3). Clean Air Funds, Economic Incentives, and NAAQS Attainment
Strategies were presented by James Yarbrough beginning from the
various strategies that governments can take to encourage industries
to maintain the lowest possible emissions of particulates and
SO2. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) compliance
programs in the United States are expected to fully utilize economic
incentive programs. These programs include clean air funds, cap
and trade programs, emissions averaging, emissions banking, and
emissions taxes or fees. All of these programs are described
in detail in the handout that was distributed during the presentation.
Several examples were given of incentive programs that have been
instituted in the United States. These program successes included
the acid rain allowance system, the NOx averaging system, the
lead trading and banking program, and the opt-in program, and
Mr. Yarbrough also went into more detail concerning the benefits
and liabilities of clean air funds. In the description of clean
air funds, he provided many specific examples of funds, how to
set them up, and how they work. The specifics of these programs
are also provided in the handout (List of presentations, 3)
13. Country Reports of Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia were
presented by the SILAQ Working Group members. In the Czech Republic
the levels of SO2 levels in Northern Bohemia and Prague have
decreased since the implementation of new legislation. There
is no information about individual contributors. Low quality
brown coal is widely used in the Czech Republic. Residential
use is about 15-20%. In some districts conversion to natural
gas has been about 7%. The Czech Power Company is producing about
75% of SOx emissions, there is only one private power plant (owned
by a British company). According to the National programme by
the year 2000 SOx emissions should be reduced by 90% and NOx
emissions by 60% - in comparison to 1993. In May of 1997, the
Ministry of the Environment set a limits decree defined by the
Air Protection Legislation (158, 1994). In Poland the SO2 concentration
on the border between the Czech Republic and Germany is the highest
in Europe, and in some mountain areas, acid rain has killed most
of the trees. These are problems that are of great concern to
the ministry. Poland has a state administrative authority, and
the Ministry of the Environment is the chief organization for
environmental law and protection. The state environmental inspectorate
issues punishments and fines and deals with economic instruments.
Five state research institutions serve under the Ministry of
the Environment in Poland as well. The Ministry of Health and
Social Welfare is concerned with public health. There are three
main legislative acts which creates system of law in Poland concerning
air pollution: 1) the Act on Protection and Management of the
Environment of 31st January, 1980 - a base for regulating air
quality; 2) the Act on Spatial Management of July 7th, 1994;
and 3) the Building Act. In a few years, laws should change as
a result of implementation of the EU directives, and there will
be big changes. Right now in Poland the environmental policy
goals are 3-4 years in the short term goals, the year 2000 is
the date set for medium term goals, and long term priorities
have a date of 2010. The graphs showed that SO2 standards are
exceeded, and it was stressed that Polish standards are more
strict than European Union standards. SO2, NO2, and PMs are all
decreasing over time. The Executive Programme to the National
Environmental Policy for the years 1994-2000 aims to reduce SOx
annual emissions to 1.0 million tonnes and PM to 0.7 million
tonnes till year 2000. The government has already issued criteria
for projects resulting in abatement of lower emissions from dispersed
small sources. This document has been helping self-governments,
the banks and Environmental Funds (National, Voivodeships, and
Gminas Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management)
to implement National Environmental Policy. The results of the
implementation of the policy is that the SO2 levels have decreased
significantly. The basic differences between the countries in
transition compared to the West are democracy. In Poland the
citizens are not always involved in decisionmaking process. There
is rare opportunity for the public (NGO's) to give comments on
pending legislation. In Slovakia about 24% of the population
is living in heavily polluted areas. Bratislava and Kosice are
the two most polluted cities. There are 32 monitoring stations
located in the most heavily polluted areas, and it has been determined
that the ambient air standard for SO2 is not exceeded, but the
standard for particulates is often exceeded. Slovak standards
are very close to EU standards. The SO2 inventory is updated
yearly. Both particulates and SO2 levels have decreased partly
due to recession and partly due to new legislation. The consumption
of brown coal has been reduced, and the use of natural gas has
increased. After 1989, legislation was created to lower emissions.
In 1996 the National Environmental Action Plan was enacted and
includes both long and short term goals. Since implementation
of the plan, both SO2 and Particulate emissions have decreased
drastically. Fuel quality requirements are mandatory on a national
level. Hungary was not represented at the workshop, but the country
status report prepared especially for the SILAQ purposes was
distributed. (List of presentations, 6, 7, 8 and 9).
14. The representative of COWI Consult, Denmark, Mr.Douglas Clark
presented the Danish Environmental Support Fund (DESF). The DESF
supports air quality projects in Central and Eastern Europe and
serves under the auspices of the Danish EPA. 380 projects were
funded, 76 of those are air quality projects (total cost $150
million). The Agency looks for projects where the benefit to
the environment would be the greatest, with visible results,
that require only a short time for implementation. Investment
projects are becoming more common as opposed to technical assistance.
Who are the recipient countries? - Poland 40%, Czech/Slovak 18%,
Baltics 12%, Russia 14%, CIS Countries 6%.
The Project Evaluation Criteria are ordered: 1. priority of government,
2. local recipients, 3. Danish proponent (manager), 4. transfer
of Danish "know-how", 5. pollution reduction, 6. co-financing
(maybe matching funds), 7. sustainability and dissemination of
results (good public relations for the Danish). The Danes offer
district heating, energy conservation, emission control - large
ESP's, bag houses, FGD, DeNOx, vapor recovery, catalytic incineration,
coal fired plants, boiler replacements, incineration plants (municipal
and hazardous waste), alternative energy sources. (List of presentation,
10)
15. Mr.Dietmar Heinze from Vereinigte Energiewerke AG (VEAG),Germany
presented their experience. The company was set up in 1990 to
provide public power supply for the five new Bundeslaender (the
former GDR). The briquetting, cocking, gas-making and power plants
were operated until 1990 at the Schwartze Pumpe location. Their
operation caused major environmental impact due to emissions
of lignite dust, ash, odorous substances, hydrocarbons, SO2 and
NOX. The cocking plant was closed, while a modernization programme
was initiated for other plants. Due to the use of novel materials,
supercritical steam parameters, utilization of hot flue gasses,
use of eight preheating stages, etc. it has been possible to
increase the net energetic efficiency and to reduce the specific
CO2 emissions to 0.995 kg/kWh net. The electrostatic precipitators
ensure that the dust burden does not exceed 50 (5 to 15 under
operating) mg/Nm3, dry, 6% O2. Wet flue-gas desulphurization
is based on the two-circuit process, using limestone as a sorbent,
with 98% or 99% of sulphur removed under operation conditions.
Six gypsum building-material factories are processing FGD gypsum
to sandwich-type plasterboard, binder for flowable floor screed,
gypsum wallboards and gypsum plaster. The effluent from the FGD
unit is mixed with ash to produce a stabilizer that is dumped
in the open-cast mine. In the FGD plant the SO2 raw-gas concentrations
of 2,500 to 5,000 mg/m3 are reduced to quantities of 30 to 60
mg/m3. An emergency programme was initiated in 1990 aimed to
rapidly and efficiently reducing dust from the old power plants.
Attention was given to measures that could be carried out by
the repair personnel at the site, which helped to essentially
cut costs. (List of presentations, 11)
16. The sessions on the SILAQ Synthesis Reports and on the Further
SILAQ Activities was facilitated by Mr.Miroslav Chodak from the
REC. He described the process of SILAQ: 1. Questionnaire, 2.
Country Reports, 3. Structure of Region, 4. Draft Report, 5.
Comments, 6. Final Version and the role of the REC - in its capacity
to support as Secretariat.
17. The discussion on the Synthesis Report on the Reduction of
SOx and Particulate Emissions (SOXP) begun with a short presentation
of the work on the draft by Mr.Yoncho Pelovski, leader of the
consulting team who prepared the reports. The presented draft
synthesis report on SOXP is based on the data sheets provided
by Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. The Czech Republic,
Hungary and Poland are included on the base of information collected
by other sources (not through the Working Group members). The
country reports, presented on the workshop, and data which will
be presented till the end of January will be included in the
next draft. In the report, objectives that need to be focused
on are addressed. Of specific importance is transboundary pollution,
and there is a clear trend of Environmental Authorities introducing
stronger and stricter standards throughout Central and Eastern
Europe.
18. The comments of the participants were focused on content
(not editorial). Czech Republic: Will send data sheets in the
next few days. The report may use the data from the Internet
pages. Recommend to include data for residential heating and
public awareness with it. Slovakia: In general, likes report,
there is a good, clear overview and it allows for a good orientation
of the issues. Some figures should be correct according to the
written comments which will be presented later. Bulgaria, Poland
and Romania confirmed the evaluation given by Slovakia. Poland
recommended to include more information for the economic incentives
and instruments in the policy section. Germany commented that
EU accession requires to use taxation and fees only. The World
Bank acknowledged the quality of the report and mentioned that
it is strong on the technical side, but might more emphasize
the policy-side, stress more policy and legislative measures,
reflect on the impact of enforcement mechanisms, taxes and charges,
include more data on small source of pollution (traffic, etc..),
and include more health impact data. The World Bank added that
the OECD is preparing a paper for Aarhus. The main trend identified
is that the economic growth and the environmental factors (emissions)
tendencies are not similar.The US EPA evaluated the report as
good work and recommended broadening the health impact section
(to include and comment the existing health data). Denmark agreed
that the report is important and serves as useful input to the
Aarhus Conference. It also recommended caution be exercised with
regard to the comments on trends in emissions and to give more
explanation for GNP, change of fuel, separating countries that
changing their fuels and those which are changing their technologies,
as well as transboundary pollution, SO2 emissions from vehicles,
and effectiveness of generation. Preventative measures need to
be included in the catalog of control mechanisms, and also, if
is it possible, to distinguish in the tables how much pollution
is originated from high emissions and how much is from low emissions.
It is necessary to point out that not only pollution control,
but technological strategies, waste management, energy conservation,
high and low emissions are important. The REC recommended to
stress the attention not only to end-of-pipe solutions, but also
to win-win and preventing measures.
19. The reviewer of the report (Mr.Milos Tichy) suggested that
there is a need to include government measures, and it needs
to concentrate more on the effects rather than specific pollutants.
Graphs in the report should show development in desulphurization,
and what is the factor for reducing emissions - if it is a result
of decreased economic activity or from implementation of new
technologies. One paragraph should mention Country standards
compared with EU standards. The approach should be geared toward
government measures (fines should go to environmental fund).
The success story where a regeneration plant replaced heater
should not be highlighted as a special project. The fact that
the role of government is limited to subsidiaries with respect
to small pollution sources should be referenced.
Day Three
20. The discussion on the Synthesis Report on the Phase Out of
Lead in Gasoline (POLG) begun with a short presentation of the
work on the draft by Mr.Yoncho Pelovski. The presented final
draft of the synthesis report on POLG is based on four things:
the data sheets provided by Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary,
Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, the country status reports
of Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, the information
provided at the SILAQ workshop on POLG in June '97 in Bourgas
and the materials prepared for the UNECE Task Force for POLG
in Europe. The first draft included comments received from Bulgaria,
Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Denmark,
HIID and the World Bank. The comments, presented here at the
workshop, will be included in the final copy.
21. The Czech Republic (more recently involved) presented data
sheets. Much data is missing. The SILAQ synthesis report is more
tailored to the needs of CEE than the new pan-European strategy
proposal. Other problems which, such as neglecting the possibility
of an increase in benzene might be considered. In the paragraph
on page 36, "some cars in many countries do need lubricants",
the statement is correct, but LADA cars can use unleaded gasoline
without any problem. More references are also needed at the end
of the report and the pan-European strategy should be referenced,
too. Add a list of references. The other SILAQ country representatives
expressed their satisfaction with the report. Denmark recommended
a three page executive summary.
22. The Roundtable Discussion on SILAQ Activities until and after
Aarhus focused on: 1) What needs to be done before Aarhus? New
ideas for projects, elaborate and check on the feasibility with
donors, finalize at next SILAQ working group meeting - 1st half
of May; and 2) What should be presented as SILAQ contribution
at Aarhus? Ministerial report submitted from Bulgaria by the
name of all SILAQ countries, full set of country reports, synthesis
papers, a glossy brochure - including results written in clear,
easy to understand language and press release - written by a
journalist and given to media. The flipcharts "What to do
before Aarhus/in Aarhus?" and "What to do after Aarhus?"
were elaborated on the basis of the opinions, statements and
suggestions of the participants (The representatives of USEPA,
WB and Germany do not participate in this session.). Denmark
recommended the executive summary of the synthesis paper be published.
The Czech Republic suggested the synthesis papers be submitted
as background documents, while the ministerial document needs
to be finalized before the next working group meeting.
23. Proposals for post-Aarhus: Bulgaria: main goal for Bulgaria
is SO2 and particulate matter reduction and would request European
assistance in the preparation of the National programme on reduction
of SOX and PM emissions (because it is only just beginning).
Czech Republic: all countries are taking conclusions of SILAQ
as a guide, next activity SILAQ could be how synthesis papers
have been applied to the elaboration or implementation of National
Air Quality Programmes. Monitoring and evaluation of the Czech
programme (adopted in '91) by the group could be very useful.
The Czech Republic is going to reduce SOX/PM from the power sector
in a short time, but they should move their attention to residential
sources. SILAQ programme is a means to activate work on the air-quality
programmes on the National level also. Poland: Every international
meeting is useful for the participants, and it gives inspiration
for future activities. Within the SILAQ programme there is a
possibility to compare our activities and assess the differences
as well as similarities. The continuation of SILAQ programme
was suggested. Romania: A national environmental strategy for
reduction of the industrial pollution is being developed. SILAQ
is very useful and inclusion of on both hydro carbons and NOx
should be considered. Slovakia: SILAQ provides a good opportunity
for the exchange of experience. Approaches and achievements can
be compared. Successful programs can be presented and reviewed.
It helps concentrate the efforts and harmonize our legislation
and environmental statistics. The consultants (Y.Pelovski and
D.Clark): Multi-country projects, environmental risk assessments,
human health assessments, and cost benefit analysis could be
very interesting to donors. Also, the identification of hot spots
and projects, which might be supported by the ministries, the
improvement of the monitoring of emissions in this areas, inventory
studies - the main sources of pollution, visibility studies,
etc. Some of the recommendations to the synthesis paper could
not be included now, since they require additional data, inventorying,
etc. The continuation of SILAQ programme should include an elaboration
of the synthesis papers, development of criteria on changing
fuel for instance. Specific targets for specific industry (wood
products for example) should be elaborated which would later
serve as basis for the development of indicators and statistics.
24. Conclusions regarding the future of SILAQ: If the SILAQ programme
continues after Aarhus, which was recommended by all participants,
the programme should be oriented towards the harmonization of
data and statistics (hot spots are often relative and comparison
of levels of air pollution could be useful); transboundary pollution
(case studies for local air pollution); risk assessment; cost-benefit;
inventory studies (utilize and improve the inventory systems,
where it is needed); feasibility studies; pilot projects are;
compare legislation and policy measures; and other pollutants.
The main decisionmaking body of SILAQ should be the existing
Working Group consisting of delegated members of each participating
country (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia). It will continue to identify projects, evaluate
progress, and review the results. In order to meet the new specific
tasks of the programme Expert Working Group(s) should be established
which will be the implementing body of SILAQ. For certain purposes
different countries might establish National Expert Working Group(s)
which will be facilitated or supported by the programme. The
REC might continue to provide secretarial support directly and
by hiring specific consultants. All members and the REC shall
do their best to reinforce the Support Panel to the programme.
25. The Workshop closed with the conclusion that it was both
useful and beneficial. The presented materials will be copied
and disseminated to the participants later. A list of the materials
presented and additional late materials will be attached to the
report from the meeting.
Attachments:
a) List of participants
b) List of presentations (available on hard copy)
c) List of presentation (distributed during the workshop)
d) List of materials available at the coordinator
e) Flipcharts from the last two sessions
