Air emissions modelling assesses
safety for human health
When Balfour Beatty Rail decided to close their Bathgate iron foundry and move to a new site, they asked Royal Haskoning to provide support in preparing the necessary permit application. The main emphasis of the project has been to assess the impact of stack emissions from the new foundry and to demonstrate that any necessary control measures will be in place.
The new foundry at South Queensferry will, like the existing one, be regulated by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) under the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2000. A new application for a Part B permit was required by SEPA and Royal Haskoning was commissioned by Balfour Beatty Rail to write the application.
The project has included ensuring that all proposed controls and management procedures to prevent and reduce emissions comply with the ‘best available techniques’ required by SEPA. The project team used its emissions expertise to advise on stack height and conditions, and an advanced dispersion model was used to predict the emissions impact at ground level. An assessment of the potential impact of the new foundry site on human health and the environment is required as part of the permitting procedures. The application was being completed as Range went to press.
Another aspect of the project has been to supervise a land quality site investigation as part of an environmental baseline report. This report covered both the Bathgate foundry site and an adjacent landfill area. The landfill is due to close in October and so the necessary plans and risk assessments for its closure, restoration and aftercare have been produced. This is also a formal process which required liaison with SEPA.
Contactpersoon: Alice Dagg
+44 (0)1706 714575
a.dagg@royalhaskoning.com
