Environmental analysis and monitoring

Environmental legislation and regulation implemented by Australian state, territory and Commonwealth government mandates exacting environmental standards.

Standards apply to emissions to air, water and land, and include emissions under Greenhouse legislation. Vital elements in industry's ability to meet government standards include comprehensive emissions analysis, audit and management.

The National Pollution Inventory (NPI) program is a joint Australian, state and territory government initiative under National Environment Protection Measures legislation. The program aims are to maintain and improve air and water quality, minimise environmental impacts associated with hazardous waste, and improve the sustainable use of resources.

The National Pollution Inventory contains data on a wide range of specified pollutants that are emitted to air, land or water and reported by facilities like mines, power stations and factories, or by government agencies for household and transport emissions.

hrl: was involved closely in development of the National Pollutant Inventory and offers expert services to assist clients to meet their reporting obligations under the program.

Organisations that generate particulate and flue gas emissions need effective strategies to monitor those emissions. Monitoring systems need to meet standards set for National Pollution Inventory reporting, and to help ensure that plant operators meet the requirements of their operating licences.

hrl: offers client organisations experience and expertise to help them meet their reporting obligations under the National Pollutant Inventory, and emissions levels under individual plant or site licences. Strategies can also include improving your operating efficiency and so reducing the emissions from your stacks.

Managing emissions from a plant effectively can increase the availability of that plant, its efficiency and the ability of the plant's operator to meet regulations and licence conditions. Strategies to manage plant air quality can include monitoring and analysis of particulate and flue-gas emissions, identifying meteorological factors and atmospheric conditions that have an impact on the dispersion of emissions, as well as actions to improve efficiency and reduce emission levels.

hrl: offers independent, expert, measurement, monitoring and modelling services along with experience and expertise in consultancy to assist plant operators in meeting their air-quality and emissions obligations.

Efficient and effective monitoring of ambient air quality includes understanding the precise intent of regulations and their application to a site or plant that is subject to monitoring. Accurate air-quality monitoring can support an organisation's effective decision-making; increase organisational confidence in predicted emission impacts; help lower associated capital costs; and support faster, cheaper and safer works approvals and licence renewals.

hrl: offers considerable experience and expertise in developing and implementing air-quality monitoring systems for an extensive range of emissions including stack particulates and flue gases.

Environmental legislation requires accurate measurement of ambient and workplace airborne particles (dust) as part of a site or plant operator's particulate management strategies. Workplace strategies are designed to ensure there is no adverse impact on the health of employees. Ambient strategies are designed to protect surrounding communities and to assist operators in maintaining positive relations with those communities. An overall strategy can also help ensure that a site or plant operator meets the relevant legislative requirements.

hrl: has developed proprietary systems and equipment for measuring particulates and the meteorological factors and atmospheric conditions that have an impact on their distribution.

Modelling provides a cost-effective way to show how emissions from existing or new industrial processes can comply with ambient air-quality standards and regulatory requirements. Such modelling can also show the impact of different meteorological factors and atmospheric conditions on emission dispersion, and compare projected air quality with current and legislated standards.

hrl: provides expert air-quality modelling that offers clients a cost-effective way to show that emissions from their existing or proposed industrial plant or processes comply with ambient air-quality standards.