Atmospheric emission to be addressed
NIGEL - In terms of a notice published in HERAUT on August 26 by BL Foundry Worx of 14 Fourth Avenue, Vorsterskroon, the company invites interested parties to register comments relating to its application for an air emission licence in terms of the National Environmental Management Air Quality Act, within 14 days of date of publication.
This means that local residents and surrounding business owners only have until September 10 to provide such submissions in writing to the air quality officer of Ekurhuleni Metropolican Municipality (EMM).
* What does atmospheric emission mean?
Simply put, it means the release of pollutants into the atmosphere from stationary sources (such as factory chimneys).
* What is BL Foundry Worx?
BL Foundry Worx falls into the category of foundries that produce or cast iron, steel or ferro alloys and secondary aluminium productions. On site activities must therefore be managed and operated in accordance with an Environmental Management System (EMS) that among others, identifies and minimises risks of pollution.
* Environmental requirements
According to Flip Visser, air quality officer of EMM, BL Foundry Worx received environmental authorisation from Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) on July 25 and in order to comply with the requirements thereof, the company has to obtain an atmospheric emission licence from Nigel Town Council for the operation of the plant.
* What are the health risks?
The following provides a summary of environmental health and safety issues associated with foundries, which occur during the operational phase:
* dust and particulate matter are generated in each of the process steps with varying levels of mineral oxides, metals (mainly manganese and lead), and metal oxides. Dust emissions arise from thermal (e.g. melting furnaces) and chemical / physical processes (e.g. moulding and core production), and mechanical actions (e.g. handling of raw materials, mainly sand, and shaking out and finishing processes);
* in the melting process, particulate matter (PM) emissions in the form of dust, metallic materials, and metal oxide fumes, vary according to furnace type, fuel, metal to be melted and melting characteristics. Cupola furnaces produce the most significant amount of particulate matter (e.g. coke, fly ash, silica, rust and limestone).
Electric arc furnaces (EAFs) are another significant source of PM during charging, at the beginning of melting, during oxygen injection, and during the decarburising phases;
* Solid waste streams include sand waste, slag from desulfurisation and from melting, dust collected within emissions control systems, refractory waste, and scrubber liquors and sludges.
Should you wish to submit a comment to the air quality officer, send an email to Flip.Visser@ekurhuleni.gov.za or phone him on 011 999 8768.
