Circular No. 40/2015/TT-BTNMT on technical procedures for air emission monitoring

CIRCULAR

On the technical procedures for air emission monitoringi

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Pursuant to the Environmental Protection Law on June 23, 2014;

Pursuant to Decree No. 21/2013/NĐ-CP dated March 4, 2013, promulgated by the Government, stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

At the proposal of the Director General of the Environment Administration, the Head of the Legal Department, and the Head of the Science and Technology Department;

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment promulgates this Circular to stipulate the technical procedures for air emission monitoring,

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

1. This Circular stipulates the technical procedures for air emission monitoring from chimneys and exhaust pipes of factories, production facilities, processing plants, industrial businesses, and waste incineration furnaces (hereinafter referred to collectively as the facility).

2. Air emission monitoring activities using automatic and continuous monitoring equipment are not within the scope of this Circular.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to environmental management agencies and organizations and individuals related to environmental monitoring activities.

Article 3. Definitions and Abbreviations

1. The isokinetic sampling method is a method that ensures the suction velocity of the sample pump at the sampling point is equal to the exhaust gas velocity at the sampling point.

2. Direct measurement equipment is equipment placed in the environment to be measured and immediately displays the value of the parameter to be measured.

3. Abbreviations in this Circular are understood as follows:

- US EPA method: method of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

- AS: Australian national standard.

- ISO: International Organization for Standardization standard.

- JIS: Japanese Industrial Standard.

Article 4. Principles for applying standards and referenced methods

1. The application of standards and referenced methods must comply with the on-site air emission monitoring and environmental analysis standards prescribed in Clause 2 and Clause 3 of Article 8 of this Circular.

2. In cases where the on-site air emission monitoring and environmental analysis standards prescribed in Clause 2 and Clause 3 of Article 8 of this Circular are amended, supplemented, or replaced, the new standards and methods shall be applied.

Article 5. Technical procedures for air emission monitoring

The technical procedures for air emission monitoring are detailed in Articles 6, 7, and 8 of this Circular.

Article 6. Determining the objectives of the monitoring program

1. Providing data to serve air pollution control work and atmospheric environment management at central and local levels.

2. Implementing monitoring and supervision requirements set forth by competent state authorities.

3. Evaluating compliance with environmental technical standards related to emissions.

4. Assessing the performance of exhaust gas treatment systems and equipment.

Article 7. Designing the monitoring program

1. Determining the location and number of monitoring points: carried out according to the provisions of Appendix 01 issued together with this Circular.

2. Determining monitoring parameters

Based on the regulations and requirements of competent state authorities; environmental technical standards for industrial emissions and waste incineration furnaces; the objectives of the monitoring program; type of production, scale, and characteristics of the source of emissions to determine the monitoring parameters:

a) Mandatory direct on-site measurements include: temperature, velocity, flow rate, humidity, dry gas molecular weight, exhaust gas pressure. Technical specifications for mandatory on-site measurements are specified in Appendices 02, 03, and 04 issued together with this Circular;

b) On-site samples for laboratory analysis include: Total PM dust, PM10 dust, SO2, NOx (NO and NO2), H2SO4, smoke density, CO, H2S, COS, CS2, Pb, F- organic compounds, dioxin/furan (PCDD/PCDF), total non-methane organic compounds (NMHC), HBr, Cl2, Br2, HF, HCl, Sb, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, P, Se, Ag, TI, Zn, Hg, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs);

c) Parameters: SO2, NOx (NO and NO2), CO, O2 can also be directly measured on-site when meeting the conditions specified in Appendix 06 issued together with this Circular, in addition to being collected as on-site samples for laboratory analysis as stipulated in Point b of this Clause.

3. Determining the time, frequency, and number of samples for monitoring

a) Monitoring time: samples are taken when the facility's production activity reaches at least 50% of its designed capacity. The facility must operate stably throughout the sampling period;

b) Monitoring frequency: at least once every three months;

c) Number of samples in one monitoring session: at least three samples per session.

4. Developing a monitoring plan

The air emission monitoring plan must include the following contents:

a) List of personnel responsible for monitoring and assignment of tasks to each participating staff member;

b) List of organizations and individuals participating and cooperating in environmental monitoring (if any);

c) List of field monitoring equipment, tools, chemicals, and laboratory analysis equipment;

d) Safety equipment and measures to ensure safe labor during environmental monitoring activities;

đ) Parameters, on-site monitoring methods, types of samples needed, sample volume, preservation, transportation, and storage time;

e) Parameters and laboratory analysis methods;

g) Budget for implementing environmental monitoring;

h) Plan to ensure quality and quality control in environmental monitoring.

Article 8. Implementation of the monitoring program

1. Preparation work before conducting monitoring

a) Preparing monitoring equipment: all monitoring equipment must be calibrated, tested, maintained, and cleaned according to the regulations of the competent state agency or the manufacturer's instructions;

b) Preparing tools, instruments, chemicals, and filter materials: based on the monitoring method for the monitored parameters, prepare impinger tubes, absorbents, adsorbents, and appropriate gas sample containers. Filter materials must have a temperature limit higher than the exhaust gas temperature and be suitable for the monitored parameters;

c) Preparing auxiliary equipment including satellite positioning devices (GPS), cameras, walkie-talkies, computers;

d) Preparing personal protective equipment: fully prepare specialized protective equipment such as heat-resistant and acid-proof clothing, shoes, gloves; anti-toxic masks or respirators; safety harnesses; hard hats; first aid kits;

đ) Determining the monitoring location: conduct on-site surveys at the chimney and determine the monitoring location, prepare sampling holes, work platforms, lifting and lowering equipment plans, labor safety measures, and power sources before conducting monitoring. The preparation of sampling holes must ensure appropriate size and position for sampling activities;

e) Checking and assembling equipment: check the sampling head, inspect the Pitot tube ends to ensure that the holes are not clogged with dust causing errors; check the filter materials, mark them (including box labels, sample storage packaging) before installation; assemble the sampling equipment according to the manufacturer's instructions and check the equipment's seal. The sampling head must be sealed to prevent dust contamination when transporting the equipment to the sampling location.

2. On-site monitoring

On-site exhaust gas monitoring shall comply with the methods specified in Table 1 below:

Table 1: Methods for on-site exhaust gas monitoring

US EPA Method 5

US EPA Method 17

JIS Z 8808:2013

+ On-site monitoring records include field observation logs, sample collection logs, field measurement results, sample transfer records, field measurement result tables, field monitoring results;

+ Laboratory analysis records include test reports, laboratory analysis results, original data stored in analytical devices;

+ Quality assurance and quality control records for both field and laboratory work shall minimally include sampling logs, field quality control sample results, field instrument calibration checks using standard gases, laboratory quality control sample results;

+ Calibration and verification records of equipment shall include seals and certificates which must be systematically managed, stored, and readily available upon request by the competent state authority.

- Calculating monitoring results:

+ The reported results are the average of at least three samples in one monitoring session;

+ In cases where parameters are monitored on-site as specified in Point c, Clause 2, Article 7, the calculation of monitoring results must be conducted according to the provisions of Clause 5 of Appendix 6 issued together with this Circular.

+ The laboratory analysis file includes the test report, calculation results, laboratory analysis data, and original data stored in analytical devices;

+ The quality assurance and on-site and laboratory quality control work files shall minimally include records, sampling logs, and field quality control sample results, field standard gas equipment check results, and laboratory quality control sample results;

+ Calibration and verification equipment files, including seals and certificates, must be systematically managed, stored, and readily available upon request from competent state authorities;

- Calculation of monitoring results:

+ The reported result is the average of at least three samples in one monitoring session;

+ For on-site monitoring parameters as specified in Point c Clause 2 Article 7, the calculation of monitoring results must be conducted according to the provisions of Clause 5 Appendix 6 issued together with this Circular.

b) Prepare the monitoring results report

The monitoring results report on emissions shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the law on managing environmental monitoring data and must at least include the following main contents: Objectives of the monitoring program; the entity conducting the monitoring (name, address, sampler); name of the facility, characteristics of the emission source, operational features of the facility at the time of monitoring; information about the monitoring program: location and number of monitoring points, number of samples taken, parameters monitored, monitoring period, monitoring methods and equipment; implementation process and monitoring results (results of each sample or measurement, average results, and field sampling records, on-site equipment calibration test results using standard gases); comments and evaluation of the results.

Article 9. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from October 5, 2015.

Article 10. Provisions on implementation

1. The Minister, Heads of Ministries equivalent to Ministries, Heads of Government Agencies, Chairmen of People's Committees at all levels, and related organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.

2. The General Department of Environment shall be responsible for guiding, inspecting, and supervising the implementation of this Circular.

3. During the implementation of this Circular, if there are difficulties or obstacles, agencies, organizations, and individuals are requested to reflect their opinions in writing to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for consideration and resolution./.