Managing data in our Pollution Inventory

Managing data in our Pollution InventoryAlex HoleAssessment & Reporting Advisor

Overview Diffuse pollution Guidance materials Process for collection and verification of data Software used for data collection and verification Confidentiality issues Pulling together the report for EPRTR

Diffuse Pollution NAEI – National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory Air emissions only Information for the whole of the UK www.naei.org.uk Run by a consultant on behalf of our ministry of

Environment (Defra) Use data on fuel use, data from environment agencies to

map emissions

No diffuse water data as yet

Guidance and tools for operators [1] For waste operators:

GasSimLite for modelling landfill gas releases Landfill leachate estimator tool Landfill reporting guidance PI guidance for waste treatment and transfer facilities Oil estimator tool for waste treatment stations

For STWs: PIEDC guidance for WIA operations STW estimator tool

Guidance and tools for operators [2]

Combustion Petroleum Iron & Steel Cement & Lime Incineration Paper & pulp Chemicals Intensive Agriculture

Hazardous waste transfer stations

Mines & quarries Waste treatment

operations Used oil treatment Food & drink

Not statutory/mandatory - designed to help quantify releases where site-specific data is not available

For other industries:

Guidance and tools for operators [3] Sector guidance notes developed in collaboration

with industry Sector guidance should have lists of relevant

substances and methodologies for calculating emissions where no monitoring data is available

Some sectors we include basic instructions on how to complete the form (e.g. Agriculture)

Guidance and tools for operators [4] General:

PI reporting guidance PI reporting codes Guidance on using PIEDC (electronic reporting system) PI reporting forms (MS Word & Acrobat)

All general and sector specific guidance is available from the PI website at: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/pi

PI process - a summary Issue of PI Notices Issue of reminder letters by 20th December PI returns obtained from industry operators by 28th February Paper forms entered on to PIEDC by 15th March Data is verified by site officers by the 5th April Overview audit carried out between 5-20th April Identified problems resolved by 30th April Final Data ready by 15th May

How is data checked & verified ?During data entry: PIEDC system triggers ‘check flags’ highlighting potential data

errors

Following data entry: Returns verified for accuracy by regulatory site officer/team using

knowledge of site Overview audit of PI dataset by regional data teams and feedback

to PI contact points National overview of PI dataset by national team and any further

feedback to PI contact points

Why do Check flags occur ?

Reasons why they are generated: Emissions high compared with previous year [>50% of

the value] Emissions are low compared with previous year [<50%

of the value] Emission high compared with threshold [factor of 5 times

or more] Incorrect units selected - factor of 1000 different ‘brt’ entered compared to an emission the previous year Emission value entered below reporting threshold

Dealing with Check flags Check flags must be investigated before removal Electronically submitted forms should include

explanation by operator in ‘qualification notes’ box Chance to clear at data entry stage Outstanding check flags should be cleared during

verification Status of PI return cannot be changed to ‘Verified’ with

check flags remaining

Verification of data

The verifier should: Clear outstanding check flags Check all expected substances have been reported Follow up ‘qualification notes’ made by operator Use local site knowledge to determine whether changes

in releases are valid Provide commentary on significant changes or other

changes in ‘Inspectors’ comments’ box Use ‘Verification Checklist for Inspectors’ Complete verification by 5th April

Generic issues for all returns

Incorrect units entered: Check whether kg, tonnes etc. Check PI reporting requirements are followed Waste transfers must always be entered in tonnes

Common problems include: Non-methane volatile organic compounds [NMVOCs] must be

reported as ‘total mass’ not ‘total carbon-equivalent mass’ CFCs, PFCs, HFCs, HCFCs & halon must be reported as total

mass

Reporting of all expected substancesIndicative list of substances by sector: Lists substances you would expect to see released by

sector to air/water Indicative list - for guidance only to identify that site has

reported appropriately

LCPD data: reported in addition to PI NOx/SOx is appropriate

‘Inspectors’ comments’ box Use for explanation of significant changes in emissions

For example as a result of : Change in operating conditions Improved abatement technology Changes in raw materials

Provide as much explanation as possible during verification stage

No explanations could lead to further enquiries at later stages

Verifying returns from waste sites More detailed handouts provided on verifying PI returns

from: Landfill sites - including information on leachate,

landfill gas [GasSimLite] etc. Waste transfer facilities - including expected

release sources, likely releases, estimating releases etc.

Chemical treatment facilities - including likely releases, quantifying releases etc.

Oil recovery operations - likely releases etc

Auditing estimated data Compare with values from previous years for sanity

check Compare releases with other similar sites/works Check with appropriate sector experts in area/region

Auditing monitored data Is monitoring data from a reliable source and technique ? Have enough concentration values/flow rates been used

to generate meaningful annual load ? How do values compare with previous years ? Would use of an estimator tool be preferable ?

Commercial confidentiality Operator can make a claim for confidentiality Written justification must be provided 28 days from date of receipt to determine Case by case judgement For Intensive agriculture, permitting teams were issued

guidance and this is being used for PI

What is the PIEDC? Pollution Inventory Electronic Data Capture Web based application ‘Front end’ of the Pollution Inventory database Data is stored in an Oracle database Internal and external version of system Operators enter emissions data onto PIEDC Paper forms entered by staff onto PIEDC Approximately 50-60% returns are submitted

electronically via the web Data extracted from the database using an Access

database

Details of Installations [1]PPC activities Name, address, grid

reference, EA ‘area’, site inspector details come from PPC permitting system

•Link between permitting system and PI

•Manual changes can be made

Details of Installations [2]Non-PPC activities (new EPRTR) Written to using a list from a third party Asked to complete information on Name, address, grid

reference

For all sites RBD will be calculated using GIS

Demonstration of the PIEDC

‘What’s in your Backyard ?’

‘What’s in your Backyard ?’

‘What’s in your Backyard ?’

The rest of the UK

Scotland PRTR is called the SPRI (Scottish Pollutant Release

Inventory) http://www.sepa.org.uk/spri/index.htm Bob Boyce in SEPA is the contact

Northern Ireland do not have an electronic PRTR – paper based

system

All data will come together for the UKPRTR

Compiling data for EPRTR

Data will be extracted by each country in UK Only extract data from the database where it meets

EPRTR requirements (data collected from PPC activities which goes beyond EPRTR is not included)

Format of data required for the EPRTR is described in the guidance document

EEA will provide a validation tool for EPRTR Data is entered into validation tool Any errors in data format will be double checked Once data passes validation it will be uploaded to

website

Alex Hole

Assessment & Reporting Advisor

alex.hole@environment-agency.gov.uk

0044 117 914 2622