Please see the below update on air quality monitoring at Mossmorran that has been shared with me from SEPA
Changes to SEPA’s air quality monitoring around the Mossmorran Complex
In 2019 we confirmed that our air quality monitoring around the Mossmorran Complex would continue throughout the period of investment and the installation of new flare tips and ground flares. At the same time we committed to working with partner agencies with air quality responsibilities to assess future requirements.
In September 2021, we held four community engagement sessions in partnership with Fife Council and the Health and Safety Executive to listen to the needs of the community. We used the feedback to inform our review of the monitoring we undertake and how we share the results of that monitoring with the local community.
To date, our monitoring has shown no breaches of the air quality objectives, but it was clear in hearing from the community that there continues to be a concern about air quality in the area. The community asked for:
- Permanent monitoring of air quality in the communities around Mossmorran.
- Simple, easy to understand and timely data, with the ability to get more detail if required.
Why are things changing?
We have reviewed how we will monitor air quality and taking the feedback from communities into account we are planning to make some changes to how we monitor air quality and how we make information on air quality available, in a way that will hopefully provide greater reassurance to local communities. We are implementing a new monitoring plan that will:
- change the monitoring locations;
- increase the number of monitoring points;
- increase the range of air pollutants that we measure.
The new monitoring equipment will allow us to explore improved ways of presenting data and trends on the levels of the pollutants measured.
More information on the enhanced monitoring plan is available online mossmorran-air-quality-stakeholder-update.pdf (sepa.org.uk).
As part of the transition to the new monitoring programme, we carried out work between 1 and 3 March to change some of the equipment being used.
What has SEPA done so far in implementing the new monitoring plan?
A new sensor array has now been installed in Auchtertool. The benefits of this are:
It is the same type of monitor that we will be using as part of the enhanced monitoring programme that will come online later this year.
These units are easier to locate than the trailer we have used up to this point due to their size and power requirements and has been installed in a similar but more accessible location.
It is the same type of unit that is being used by Fife Council as part of its air quality assessments. This means that data should be comparable, and therefore between the two organisations we will have a better picture of air quality across the county.
It measures a similar range of pollutants as the trailer, including carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter. It will also allow us to measure other pollutants of interest in the future.
The trailer of equipment that we had located at a site to the North East of the site for the last few years has been removed. The transition to our new approach and the new sensor array means the trailer is no longer required.
This is only a small change in our current monitoring. There have been no other changes to our monitoring at this time and the particulate monitors in Lochgelly, Auchertool and Donibristle and our noise monitors at Lochgelly and Auchtertool remain in place.
You can find out more about the new equipment on the AQMesh website.
What happens next?
We are committed to providing updates to the community as we continue our transition to our new approach.
We will publish more information later in the year, including:
- Information on the equipment we are installing.
- Timescales for work.
- How we will improve access to the air quality data collected.
Updates will be published on our Mossmorran hub.
