WORKSHOP PAPERS
The first coherent legislation on air pollution abatement was issued in 1973 (Order No. 1/1973 (I.9) MT issued by the Council of Ministers). The basic aim of the Order was that air should be protected from all effects and polluting substances which alter its natural characteristics and is harmful to human health or the economy. Ambient air quality criteria were prescribed for the polluting substances. The regulations supplementing the Order gave methods for determining emission limit values based on the relationship between emission-transmission and ambient air quality. The practice of air pollution abatement in Hungary developed on this basis. The relevant legislation was significantly further developed in 1986 taking into account the experiences of the practical work in this field: the amended Order No. 21/1986 (VI.2) MT issued by the Council of Ministers and the modified Regulation No. 4/1986 (VI.2) OKTH issued by the President of the National Authority for Environmental Protection and Nature Conservation, NAEPNC).
Upon the enactment of the Act on Environmental Protection (No. LIII/1995), the Order took measures toward the implementation of zoning (conditions, authorization). The country's total territory will belong to 'Protected Area I,' with the exception of nature conservation areas ('Specially Protected Area') and industrial regions ('Protected Area II').
The Order lays down the requirements to be met in the process of planning, stipulating fines and liability based on emission limit values and requiring data submission by the polluters. It codifies opportunities to establish regulations in cases of episodic air pollution and prescribes principles of product qualification. Further, the Order defines the competent authorities and their tasks in the field of air pollution abatement.
Ambient air quality criteria are specified in standard No. MSz 21854-1990 for 34 polluting substances in detail according to zoning and to exposure time (annual, 24 hour, and 30 minute limit values are specified). This also determines the category of toxicity for the air polluting substances. A further 287 substances are controlled by limit values which should be implemented in the planning process, i.e., upon the calculation of the emission limit values for newly established sources. The period of time, and degree to which substances of differing toxicity may exceed the limit values is also specified. The standard comprises limit values for episodic smog, and this serves as the basis for the introduction of countermeasures.
The regulation specifies three types of emission limit values for stationary sources:
Environmental requirements for road vehicles have been specified in a regulation issued by the Minister of Transportation. This regulation comprises the requirements on air pollution abatement to be met when introducing vehicles to the road and throughout their operation. Emission limit values were specified for concentrations of CO, NOx and total unburned hydrocarbons in the exhaust gases of petrol engines, diesel engines, and for diesel exhaust.
Air pollution abatement is the responsibility of more than one ministry. However, the shared organizational structure inherent to this responsibility hinders the effectiveness of measures taken to promote air pollution abatement.
Legislation on air pollution abatement is based on the codified principles of the new Environmental Protection Act (LIII/1995). A series of legislative modifications are due to be carried out in 1996. These are as follows:
The zoning system will be modified and the "protected area II" abolished. This will result in the modification of ambient air limit values. The evaluation of ambient air quality in residential areas will be modified, too, in order to assure the possibility of comparison with international data. A method will be established for the monitoring of pollutants and the compiling of data, on the basis of which future measures could be implemented in the case of especially polluted regions.
The requirements for polluters not controlled by specific regulations have been determined by way of general limitations and liabilities on the licensing, establishment, and operation of polluting sources and on other obligations imposed by the authorities.
The role of stack height in the relationship between emissions and ambient air quality will be clearly established, along with the methods to be used.
The system of fining currently in force will undergo major change. The present system will be abolished and in the future all enterprises in possession of air polluting sources are liable to pay a fee for the use of the environment. In the case of emissions in excess of limit values the operator of the existing stationary source is also liable to pay fines. The rate of this fine depends on the toxicity and amount of the substance and on the degree of excess.
Special attention will be focused on polluting facilities such as those used in power generation and waste incineration, i.e., strict emission limits will be issued.
Urban air pollution is generated mainly by traffic. Thus, emission control of mobile sources is one of the main targets of the new legislation on air pollution abatement. The development of legislation will result in requirements which necessitate, among other things, the installation of catalytic converters in automobiles released onto the road in the future.
The reduction of emissions has been due to:
Table 1: Trends in the emissions of pollutants in Hungary (without natural sources)
| 1980 | 1985 | 1990 | 1992 | Changes in % (1985-1992) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO2 (Mt) | |||||
| Total | 92 | 89 | 74 | 65.9 | -26% |
| Traffic | 7.4 | ||||
| Industry | 14.6 | ||||
| Power plants | 23.8 | ||||
| SO2 (kt) | |||||
| Total | 1,633 | 1,404 | 1,010 | 827 | -41% |
| Industry1 | 494 | 459 | 268 | 182 | -60% |
| Power plants2 | 688 | 526 | 435 | 456 | -13% |
| NOx (kt) | |||||
| Total | 273 | 262 | 238 | 183 | -30% |
| Traffic | 111 | 110 | 116 | 94 | -37% |
| Industry1 | 31 | 27 | 20 | 15 | -44% |
| Power plants2 | 73 | 65 | 48 | 41 | -37% |
| CO (kt) | |||||
| Total | 804 | 836 | |||
| Traffic | 490 | ||||
| Industry | 248 | ||||
| Power plants2 | 19 | ||||
| NH3 (kt) | |||||
| Total | 170 | 176 | 140 | -18% | |
| Particular matter (kt) | |||||
| Total | 577 | 492 | 205 | 160 | -67% |
| Traffic | 19 | 11 | 6 | 12 | +9% |
| Industry3 | 239 | 233 | 71 | 64 | -73% |
| Power plants2 | 223 | 131 | 34 | 23 | -82% |
| NMVOC (kt) | |||||
| Total | 205.04 | 143.55 | 135.8 | -34%6 | |
| Road traffic | 90.5 | 72.5 | 67.9 | -25% | |
| Solvent use | 78.5 | 45.0 | 43.0 | -45% | |
| Oil industry | 35.0 | 25.0 | 24.0 | -31% | |
| Power plants | 10.0 | 1.0 | 0.9 | -10% | |