FEZILE DABI DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN SEPTEMBER 2010 1 REPORT AUTHORS Nicola Walton - Gondwana Environmental Solutions (Pty) Ltd Loren Webster - Gondwana Environmental Solutions (Pty) Ltd 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................12 1.1 Geographic Overview ....................................................................................................14 1.2 Methodological Approach for the development of an Air Quality Management Plan for Fezile Dabi District .....................................................................................................................17 1.3 Local Air Quality Management Plans ............................................................................20 1.4 Outline of Report ...........................................................................................................20 2. POLICY AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS ................................................................22 2.1. Air Pollution Prevention Act 45 of 1965.........................................................................22 2.2. National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004 ................................22 2.3. Legislation for Local Government .................................................................................26 2.4. Local Air Quality By-Laws .............................................................................................27 2.5. Ambient Air Quality Guidelines and Standards .............................................................28 2.5.1. National Ambient Air Quality Standards ...............................................................29 2.6. Listed Activities and Minimum Emission Standards ......................................................30 3. METEOROLOGICAL OVERVIEW AND AMBIENT AIR QUALITY OF FEZILE DABI DISTRICT .......................................................................................................................................34 3.1. Macroscale Air Circulations ...........................................................................................34 3.2. Mesoscale Air Circulations ............................................................................................35 3.3. Local Wind Field ............................................................................................................37 3.3.1. Temperature .........................................................................................................47 3.3.2. Precipitation ..........................................................................................................47 3.4. Current Ambient Air Quality Situation ...........................................................................48 3.4.1. Ambient Particulate Concentrations .....................................................................50 3.4.2. Diurnal Concentrations .........................................................................................52 3.4.3. Sulphur Dioxide Concentrations ...........................................................................55 3.4.4. Diurnal Concentrations .........................................................................................57 3.4.5. Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations ..........................................................................60 3.4.6. Diurnal Concentrations .........................................................................................62 4. STATUS QUO OF THE AMBIENT AIR QUALITY IN FEZILE DABI DISTRICT ..................66 4.1. Baseline Emissions Inventory .......................................................................................66 4.1.1. Industries ..............................................................................................................66 4.1.2. Domestic Fuel Burning .........................................................................................70 4.1.3. Transportation ......................................................................................................74 4.1.4. Agriculture .............................................................................................................80 4.1.5. Biomass Burning ..................................................................................................82 4.1.6. Waste Treatment and Disposal ............................................................................85 4.1.7. Summary of Air Pollution Sources in the District ..................................................91 4.1.8. Predicted Ambient Air Quality in Fezile Dabi District ....................................................92 4.2. Gap Analysis .................................................................................................................96 5. AIR QUALITY PRACTICES AND INITIATIVES WITHIN PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ..............................................................................................................................98 5.1. Government Structure and Functions ...........................................................................98 5.1.1. Provincial Level ....................................................................................................98 5.1.2. District Level .........................................................................................................98 5.1.3. Local Level ............................................................................................................99 5.2. Air Quality Management Tools ................................................................................... 100 5.2.1. Complaints Response Database ....................................................................... 100 5.2.2. Emissions Inventory Database .......................................................................... 100 5.2.3. Dispersion Modelling Software .......................................................................... 100 5.2.4. Data Reporting Practices ................................................................................... 101 6. PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION AND OBJECTIVES ANALYSIS ........................................ 102 6.1. Small Industries .......................................................................................................... 102 3 6.1.1. Problem Analysis ............................................................................................... 102 6.1.2. Causes ............................................................................................................... 103 6.1.3. Effects ................................................................................................................ 104 6.1.4. Objectives .......................................................................................................... 104 6.2. Scheduled and Mining Processes .............................................................................. 105 6.2.1. Problem Analysis ............................................................................................... 105 6.2.2. Causes ............................................................................................................... 106 6.2.3. Effects ................................................................................................................ 107 6.2.4. Objectives .......................................................................................................... 107 6.3. Domestic Fuel Burning ............................................................................................... 108 6.3.1. Problem Analysis ............................................................................................... 108 6.3.2. Causes ............................................................................................................... 109 6.3.3. Effects ................................................................................................................ 110 6.3.4. Objectives .......................................................................................................... 110 6.4. Vehicle Emissions ...................................................................................................... 111 6.4.1. Problem Analysis ............................................................................................... 112 6.4.2. Causes ............................................................................................................... 112 6.4.3. Effects ................................................................................................................ 113 6.4.4. Objectives .......................................................................................................... 114 6.5. Agriculture and Biomass Burning ............................................................................... 115 6.5.1. Problem Analysis ............................................................................................... 115 6.5.2. Causes ............................................................................................................... 115 6.5.3. Effects ................................................................................................................ 116 6.5.4. Objectives .......................................................................................................... 116 6.6. Landfills .....................................................................................................................