Regulatory Compliance - Towards Increased Self-Monitoring

1. Regulatory Compliance -Towards Increased Self-Monitoring 2008 AECEN REGIONAL FORUM BALI 24-26 Nov 08 Mr Jothieswaran P Chief Engineer Pollution Control Department National Environment Agency Singapore

2. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Clean Air & Climate Change Clean Land Clean Water

3. 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

4. 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 Introduction

5. 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 Environmental Management Strategy

6. CONCEPT PLAN 2001

7. Prevention Enforcement Monitoring Education / Partnership Environmental Management Strategy • 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

8. CONCEPT PLAN 2001

9. Prevention Enforcement Monitoring Education / Partnership Environmental Management Strategy • Legislation enacted to control pollution is supported by close monitoring and strict enforcement • Regular inspections • Investigation of complaints/feedback

10. Environmental Management Strategy • 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 Prevention Enforcement Monitoring Education / Partnership

11. Prevention Enforcement Monitoring Education / Partnership Environmental Management Strategy • 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

12. 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

13. The pollution and noise limits are stipulated under the respective regulations as follows: Air Emissions Air Impurities Regulations Industrial Wastewater Discharge Trade Effluent Regulations Noise Boundary Limits for Factory Premises Regulations Control of Noise at Construction Sites Regulatory Compliance

14. 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 Compliance Self-monitoring, Reporting & Record-keeping

15. Monitoring points for compliance: Air Emission Chimney Stack Wastewater Discharge Water body Factory Noise Boundary of factory premise Construction Noise Nearest affected premises Regulatory Compliance

16. 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 Industries that carry out Self-monitoring and Reporting

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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 Continuous Telemetry Monitoring

20. 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

21. 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. Benefits of Self monitoring

22. Thank You