Air Emissions
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coal purchase agreements. purchase coal meet air quality specifi cations before entering entering before cations specifi quality air meet • Conduct comprehensive studies to ensure coals coals ensure to studies comprehensive Conduct • ratios in the combustion processes. combustion the in ratios to minimise our environmental footprint. environmental our minimise to operational controls to optimise air to fuel fuel to air optimise to controls operational workplace and Gladstone Power Station’s efforts efforts Station’s Power Gladstone and workplace • Use advanced computer technology and and technology computer advanced Use • oxide gases. oxide satisfy their own minds about the health of our our of health the about minds own their satisfy Gary Macnamara on (07) 4976 5504. 4976 (07) on Macnamara Gary technology to reduce the production of nitrogen nitrogen of production the reduce to technology will provide the community with the knowledge to to knowledge the with community the provide will contact Community Relations Offi cer, cer, Offi Relations Community contact • Utilise Burner out of Service (BOOS) (BOOS) Service of out Burner Utilise • We hope that the factual overview in this brochure brochure this in overview factual the that hope We nitrogen and sulphur gases. sulphur and nitrogen Employees who would like further information can can information further like would who Employees • Blend coal types to reduce the production of of production the reduce to types coal Blend • now and into the future. the into and now concentrations. it is likely to have on community health. health. community on have to likely is it metre tall chimneys to minimise ground level level ground minimise to chimneys tall metre where our people work and live is a healthy one, one, healthy a is live and work people our where about the quality of air in Gladstone and any impact impact any and Gladstone in air of quality the about • Disperse gas emissions through our three 153 153 three our through emissions gas Disperse • have a vested interest in ensuring that the region region the that ensuring in interest vested a have meet our environmental license obligations. license environmental our meet investigation that will give us a complete picture picture complete a us give will that investigation As a major employer in the Gladstone region, we we region, Gladstone the in employer major a As • Continuously measure particulate emissions to to emissions particulate measure Continuously • their health, so NRG Gladstone welcomes the the welcomes Gladstone NRG so health, their emissions. been identifi ed. identifi been concerned about the impact of air pollution on on pollution air of impact the about concerned six boiler gas outlets to reduce particulate particulate reduce to outlets gas boiler six • Installed 46,020 fabric fi lter bags across the the across bags lter fi fabric 46,020 Installed • Many people in the Gladstone area remain remain area Gladstone the in people Many community health issues have ever ever have issues health community and external monitoring and no no and monitoring external and In order to reduce our emissions, we: emissions, our reduce to order In identify any potential health risks for the community. the for risks health potential any identify subjected to rigorous internal internal rigorous to subjected coal-fi red power stations. power red coal-fi year investigation into Gladstone’s air quality to to quality air Gladstone’s into investigation year particulate matter of all comparable Queensland Queensland comparable all of matter particulate Gladstone Power Station has been been has Station Power Gladstone that they would undertake a comprehensive two two comprehensive a undertake would they that NRG Gladstone has the lowest emissions of of emissions lowest the has Gladstone NRG During our 30 years of operation, operation, of years 30 our During The Queensland Government recently announced announced recently Government Queensland The AIR EMISSIONS AIR The Enironmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) The original station at Swans Road was established in 1991 An EPA review of air monitoring data in Gladstone between air quality monitoring network in Gladstone in a rural area north of the Targinnie township. It measures 2001 and 2006 states that: Our close proximity to the coast and community, includes a number of permanent stations nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and meteorological “industrial particle emissions, as measured at the EPA together with our large coal stockpile capacity, provides around the area, including: parameters. monitoring site locations, did not result in exceedences NRG with some environmental challenges. The second station in Stupkin Lane is currently being of PM and visibility-reducing particle air quality goals SOUTH GLADSTONE 10 Over the years we have implemented a range of moved to the vicinity of the Rio Tinto Refi nery at Yarwun. and standards. Exceedences of 24-hour average PM10 environmental management techniques to reduce dust Located in the grounds As part of the Clean and Healthy Air for Gladstone project air quality goals and standards only occurred during emissions around the site, including: of South Gladstone State three new air monitoring locations and one mobile station atypical particle episodes such as dust storms and Primary School, this smoke from grass fi res and bushfi res. Annual average • Minimising drop heights of coal; will be set up. Air monitoring stations will be installed in residential station was the Gladstone CBD and Boyne Island in the near future. PM10 concentrations were less than 34 percent of the • Watering areas where mobile equipment is used; established in 1992. The EPP (Air) goal.” • Installing dust suppression equipment that sprays two station measures nitrogen tonnes of reclaimed water for every 100 tonnes of oxides, SO2, PM 10, visibility coal fed along the conveyor systems; and meteorological parameters. • An upgrade of the coal conveying system to reduce $UST STORM dust emissions when moving greater quantities of CLINTON coal; GM Established in 1993 in an ± • Using fallout gauges to determine the effectiveness of open area at the Gladstone $USTSTORM Right: This graph, dust minimisation practices; Airport. This station monitors PM , nitrogen oxides, %00!IR HOURGOAL 10 taken from the 2001 sulphur dioxide, wind speed and direction. NRG • Continuous improvement in operating procedures; - 2006 EPA Review contributed to the establishment of this station and CONCENTRATION of Fine particle • Revegetation programs to create natural wind breaks to its ongoing operational costs. levels in Gladstone, 3MOKEPARTICLESTRANSPORTED FROMLARGEBUSHFIRESIN .EW3OUTH7ALESBY3%WINDS $USTSTORM and reduce levels of dust released from stockpile shows the daily 24- 3MOKEFROMLOCALGRASSFIRE SOUTHOFTHEMONITORINGSITE TARGINNIE 3MOKEFROMBUSHFIREIN-T,ARCOM2ANGE !IR.%0- HOURSTANDARD areas; hour average PM10 $USTSTORM There are currently two stations measuring the concentrations at • Fabric fi lters to reduce particulate emissions. South Gladstone over impact of industry emissions in Targinnie. NRG HOURAVERAGE0- In 2007, NRG purchased 60 hectares of land surrounding the period 2001 to contributes to the operational costs of both the station to further increase the buffer zone between 2006. *UL *UL *UL *UL *UL *UL *AN *AN *AN *AN *AN *AN 3EP 3EP 3EP 3EP 3EP 3EP .OV .OV .OV .OV .OV .OV -AR -AR -AR -AR -AR -AR -AY -AY -AY -AY -AY stations. -AY us and our closest neighbours. Monitoring – Validating the Figures Name Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)PM10 PAH What is it? The term NOx is used to denote oxides of nitrogen. The A colourless, irritating and reactive gas with a pungent odour, it Particulate matter is a term used to describe airborne particles existing in the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) are a group of over ‘x’ indicates the combination of nitrogen and oxygen in is produced naturally in volcanoes and geothermal activity and atmosphere. These particles, including all organic and inorganic compounds, can range 100 different compounds that are formed during the incomplete the compound. Of the numerous forms of NOx possible, bushfi res. Fossil fuel combustion accounts for the majority of the in size from microscopic to visible. They occur from either natural activities such as combustion of coal, oil and gas, garbage, or other organic Nitric Oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are the world’s sulphur dioxide emissions. erosion, evaporative sea salt, forest fi res or man-induced processes such as combustion, substances like tobacco or charbroiled meat. In the atmosphere most signifi cant air contaminants. manufacturing activities and automobile exhaust. The terminology commonly refers to PAH exist mostly in solid form, absorbed to particulate matter. particulate matter as PMx where ‘x’ denotes the particle diameter in microns (1 millionth of a metre). PM10 indicates all particulate matter of diameter 10 microns or less. How may I be The primary source of NOx is the combustion of fossil Various industrial activities such as petroleum processing, base Particulate matter can originate from a wide variety of sources, which differ markedly The greatest exposure to PAH is likely to take place in the exposed to it? fuels such as coal, oil and gas. The main culprits are motor metal smelter operations and wood processing produce signifi cant from one location to another depending on the problems of industry and dominant workplace. People, who work in coal