Comparison Programme on the implementation and enforcement of Air Quality standards in relation to industrial air emissions (PIAQ), phase I – II

Project description and aims

The air quality directive and its daughter directives have been implemented in EU member states in the past years. In 2007, an earlier IMPEL project (with Austria as lead partner) made it possible to exchange expertise in licensing of installations in ambient air polluted zones, based on an inquiry in some member states. A limited scope study in 2009 showed that directives have been implemented in practice in different ways in different IMPEL member states. Contacts between experts in these countries confirmed differences, leading to different air quality management activities with respect to permitting and enforcement of sectors of industries, traffic and shipping. However, not much is known about these different activities and their effects on the air quality itself. We do know, of course, that ambient air quality is effected also by traffic and shipping. This project however was limited to industrial emissions, bearing in mind the core focus of IMPEL and limited time and resources available.

In general it is very difficult to relate the emissions of one single installation or site to the ambient air quality. Local air quality is often under pressure in areas with concentrations of large industry. This brings up the question whether an additional company in such areas will have an additional significant effect on the local air quality or on the national emission ceilings. And also what permitting, control or enforcement strategies would lead to the best air quality.

Phase I

The main objective of the project is to identify best practices in the application of (implementation, control and enforcement) EU Air Quality Directives in relation to industrial air emissions. The objectives will be achieved by:

• Exchange of information on the implementation of the Air quality directives in relation to industrial air emissions by means of a questionnaire and a workshop.
• Identify best practices in control and enforcement and its effects on emissions by main sectors of industry.
• Assess the effectivity of the different practices, plans and programs on the ambient air quality.
  Identify common EU best practices.
• Making these best practices available to all IMPEL Member States.
• Drafting of project report containing findings, conclusions and recommendations.

Phase II

IMPEL aims at improvement of implementation and enforcement of environmental legislation by Member States. Within this project Member States will intensify exchange of information and will continue to develop their expertise and good practices of implementation (control and enforcement) of air quality directives in practice. Where Phase 1 focused more on the exchange of information and experiences on key regulatory issues, phase 2 of the project aims to identify best practices in the inspection and enforcement of industries, performed by the local, regional and national level, improving environmental effects in IMPEL member countries. Emissions from industry, traffic and shipping do contribute to the air quality different in the EU countries. Within this PIAQ project the focus was on industrial sources in countries with larger zones of industrial activity.