Regulatory Compliance -Towards Increased Self-

Monitoring2008 AECEN REGIONAL FORUM

BALI

24-26 Nov 08

Mr Jothieswaran PChief Engineer

Pollution Control DepartmentNational Environment Agency

Singapore

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Clean Air & Climate Change

Cl e

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Cle

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Introduction

• Singapore is an island city-state (700 km2) with a population of 4.5 million

• Today, Singapore is highly urbanised and industrialised with major industries like oil refineries, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, wafer fabrication and electronic plants

Introduction

• In the process of industrialisation, there were also parallel developments in the housing, commercial and service sectors

• All these developments generated pollution, wastewater and solid waste, and would have caused degradation to the environment. However, this did not happen in Singapore

• Singaporeans today enjoy a clean and green environment, and a high standard of public heath

Environmental Management Strategy

• The present state of the environment in Singapore is achieved through adopting a forward-looking and an integrated approach to environmental protection and management as follows:– Prevention– Enforcement– Monitoring– Education & Partnership

CONCEPT PLAN 2001

Environmental Management Strategy

• Prevention

• Enforcement

• Monitoring

• Education / Partnership

• Key thrusts of pollution prevention strategy adopted in Singapore:

– Proper land use planning

– Judicious siting of industries

– Development and building plan control

– Provision of environmental infrastructure

– Regulatory Controls and Policies

CONCEPT PLAN 2001

Environmental Management Strategy

• Prevention

• Enforcement

• Monitoring

• Education / Partnership

• Legislation enacted to control pollution is supported by close monitoring and strict enforcement

• Regular inspections

• Investigation of complaints/feedback

Environmental Management Strategy

• Prevention

• Enforcement

• Monitoring

• Education / Partnership

• Continuous monitoring of ambient air quality

• Inland & coastal waters monitoring

• Monitor latest developments in industrial processes and pollution control technologies

• Monitoring data serve as feedback on adequacy and effectiveness of control programmes

Environmental Management Strategy

• Prevention

• Enforcement

• Monitoring

• Education / Partnership

• Public campaigns, e.g. Clean and Green Week

• Training courses for professionals, industries, etc

• Seminars, workshops for industries, businesses, etc

• Dialogues with industries, professional institutions, etc

Regulatory Compliance

• The Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) is the main piece of legislation on pollution control in Singapore

• The Act :– Is based on the principle of strict liability– Sets limits on air and water pollutant emissions and

noise generated– Allows NEA to require companies to carry out self-

monitoring

Regulatory Compliance• The pollution and noise limits are

stipulated under the respective regulations as follows:– Air Emissions

Air Impurities Regulations

– Industrial Wastewater DischargeTrade Effluent Regulations

– NoiseBoundary Limits for Factory Premises RegulationsControl of Noise at Construction Sites

The following are offences under the EPMA:• Failure to install, operate and maintain any

monitoring equipment properly and efficiently• Failure to submit monitoring results• Failure to report promptly any release or

discharge of hazardous chemicals into the environment

Regulatory ComplianceSelf-monitoring, Reporting & Record-keeping

Regulatory Compliance

Monitoring points for compliance:• Air Emission

– Chimney Stack

• Wastewater Discharge – Water body

• Factory Noise– Boundary of factory premise

• Construction Noise– Nearest affected premises

Industries that carry out Self-monitoring and Reporting

Air emissions

Refineries, Power Plants, Process Industries, Industries with Boilers > 2,300 kg/hr steam generating capacity

– Carry out source emission– Submit smoke density records– Submit data on quantity and quality (sulphur

content) of fuel used

Wastewater Discharges

Process industries that discharge trade effluent– Analytical results of samples collected– Continuous monitoring of pH level of trade effluent

• Submission of records to authority• Monitoring device sealed by authority

Industries that carry out Self-monitoring and Reporting

Noise

Construction sites– Continuous monitoring of noise– Submission of noise records– Automatic transmission of noise levels via sms

Factory Premises– Noise measurement taken before plant commences

operation – Ad-hoc measurement, new equipment installed,

equipment failure, public feedback

Industries that carry out Self-monitoring and Reporting

Continuous Telemetry Monitoring

Industries • Major emitters currently have installed

continuous monitoring devices to monitor emission of main pollutants (SO2, PM, NOX and CO) from their chimneys

• NEA has implemented a programme to require these major emitters to link their monitoring systems to NEA’s central monitoring systems via telemetry

• Programme is under implementation

Benefits of Self monitoring

Industries • Any exceedances due to pollution control

equipment failure will be known and immediately attended to

• Process failures can be detected early• Pollution will be minimised

Benefits of Self monitoring

Government• Resources earlier allocated for routine

monitoring can be deployed to focus on other technical matters

• With in-stack monitoring, there will be a better inventory of the discharge into the environment.

Thank You