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Section 4.4: Air Quality

Sydney Airport Environment Strategy 2005 – 2010

Air Quality

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53 4.4 Air Quality Objectives • Minimise air emissions from ground-based airport operations and activities • Comply with State and Commonwealth legislation and relevant standards and guidelines • Encourage progressive introduction by airlines for new engine designs and technologies to reduce aircraft air emissions.

Relevant Legislation and Standards Commonwealth • Airports (Environment Protection) Regulations 1997 – Cl.2.01; Sch.1 • National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure • National Environment Protection (National Pollutant Inventory) Measure • National Environment Protection (Diesel Vehicle Emissions) Measure • Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 NSW • Ozone Protection Act 1989 • Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997

Existing Environment The current emissions from Sydney Airport represent 3% or less of the total emissions within the Sydney-WollongongNewcastle airshed. Relative emissions are shown in the following table.

Table 4.1: Sydney Airport Emissions Compared with Total Airshed Emissions Sydney-WollongongNewcastle Air shed – 2002/2003 Pollutant

Sydney Airport – 2002/2003

kg/day

kg/day

% of air shed

406,825

558

0.1

2,354,205

4802

0.2

NOx

321,685

6348

2.0

SO2

11,712

381

3.2

PM10

29,460

287

1.0

VOCs CO

A study undertaken in 2003 (Holmes Air Sciences Pty Ltd ) indicated that the principal source of emissions at Sydney Airport is aircraft operation, with the balance comprising airport related traffic, aircraft auxiliary power units, and other sources (see Figure 4.1, and Table 4.2).

Sydney Airport Environment Strategy 2005 – 2010

54 Figure 4.1: Relative Contributions of Airport Activities to Total Emissions

Airport related traffic 13%

Auxiliary power units 9% Other 3% Aircraft operation 75%

Table 4.2: Relative Contributions to Total Sydney Airport Emissions 2001-2002 Emissions (%) Source

VOCs

CO

NOx

SOx

PM10

Aircraft operation

60.8

70.3

80.1

94.0

87.4

Airport related traffic

27.5

16.7

9.3

4.2

10.7

Auxiliary power units

6.6

12.2

8.8

NA

NA

Aircraft refuelling and fuel storage

4.3

NA

NA

NA

NA

Other

0.9

0.8

1.9

1.7

1.9

Current Management Air Quality Monitoring Station SACL maintains an Air Quality Monitoring Station (AQMS) on the Airport, which was established in 1994. Currently, the following parameters are monitored by the AQMS: • sulfur dioxide (SO2) • particulate matter (PM10) • carbon monoxide (CO) • ozone (O3) • total oxides of nitrogen (NOx) • nitrogen dioxide (NO2) • nitric oxide (NO) • non-methane hydrocarbons (VOCs) The measurement techniques employed by SACL closely conform to the procedures adopted by the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation (former Environment Protection Agency or EPA). Measurements made at the Sydney Airport AQMS are assessed against the Ambient Air Quality Objectives contained in Schedule 1 (Part 2) of the Airports (Environment Protection) Regulations 1997, the standards for air quality contained in the National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) guidelines, air quality guidelines used by the NSW EPA and other applicable guidelines including international standards.

Sydney Airport Environment Strategy 2005 – 2010

55 Air Quality Compliance Monitoring results from the AQMS indicate that airport emissions are within the air quality objectives of the Airports (Environment Protection) Regulations 1997 criteria. Air quality monitoring results from airport operations have not exceeded Regulatory requirements since monitoring began in 1994. The only exceedances recorded were not directly related to airport operations but were the result of such things as dust storms and intense bushfire activity. Ozone Depleting Substances SACL maintains an inventory of its use and storage of ozone depleting substances. Sources of ozone depleting substances include industrial chillers and compressors, air conditioning units and surplus refrigerant storage. SACL maintains regular servicing of equipment containing ozone depleting substances to ensure that release to the atmosphere is avoided. Greenhouse Gases and NPI SACL conducts annual reporting of its emissions under the National Pollutant Inventory. This information, and other airport ground emission data, is collated to review and update SACL’s known greenhouse gas emissions. The data will be used to aid in the development and assessment of greenhouse reduction programs over the term of the strategy. Towards Cleaner Aircraft The introduction of the Air Navigation (Aircraft Engine Emissions) Regulations ensures that aircraft within Australia comply with the emission standards contained within the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Volume II, Annex 16). The standards are aimed at reducing ground level emissions and establish limits for relevant parameters including oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and smoke. In March 1999, ICAO announced new limits for NOx emissions which represent a reduction of about 16%, applicable to new engine designs after 2003 (see Section 5.2 for further detail).

Performance Targets and KPIs • No exceedance from air quality monitoring programs.

Sydney Airport Environment Strategy 2005 – 2010

56 Five Year Action Program Management Issues

Actions

Air Quality Monitoring

While continuing to maintain the existing Air Quality Monitoring program for the 04/05 financial year, carry out a review of this program to re-evaluate testing parameters and determine the future direction for monitoring at Sydney Airport.

B

Review inventory of emission sources, and quantify ground based emissions.

C

Investigate practicality of participating in Government sponsored greenhouse programs and/or greenhouse gas offset programs such as ‘Greenfleet’.

B

Emissions and Greenhouse Gas Reduction

Status

Identify realistic reduction opportunities from point sources identified in emission source study (above). C

Vehicle Fleet Emissions

Fire Training Facility

Ozone Depleting Substances

Reporting

Increase availability of Fixed Electrical Ground Power Units (FEGPU), reducing the need for APUs (auxiliary power units) or GPUs (Ground Power units).

D

Assess spray painting operations for compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, in line with Tenant Auditing Program.

D

Introduce more advanced ground transport using cleaner/alternative fuels (ie. hybrid vehicles and/or emission reduction devices), in accordance with Alternative Fuels Investigation, 2001.

B

Ensure all vehicles/plant undergo regular maintenance program.

D

Investigate alternative fuels for fire training, in conjunction with Airservices Australia (eg. natural gas).

B

Restrict fuel burning for fire training to appropriate days in accordance with NSW EPA guidelines.

D

Dispose obsolete R11 and R12 gas stores in accordance with ozone protection legislation.

B

Maintain an inventory of Ozone Depleting Substances.

D

Report on air quality issues to DOTARS as part of Annual Environment Report.

D

Update AEO on air quality issues on a monthly basis.

D

Carry out annual NPI reporting and submit to NSW EPA.

D

Note: The Ground Transport Environmental Action Program also contains related actions that further air quality objectives

Sydney Airport Environment Strategy 2005 – 2010