registration to participate

THE HIGHVELD PRIORITY AREA AQMP MULTI-STAKEHOLDER REFERENCE GROUP AND GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

The process of declaring the Highveld a Priority Area by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (23 November 2007) also followed an extensive consultation process with a wide range of stakeholders.  Establishing a Multi-stakeholder Reference Group is one of the requirements for the implementation of the Highveld Priority Area Air Quality Management Plan which is currently unde preparation.  This is in accordance with the principle of co-operative governance as set out in Chapter 3 of the Constitution. The Reference Group will operate as a part of the broader Governance Structure and a vehicle for facilitating public participation.  It is therefore importance that the group is fairly representative.  The aim is to promote an open, transparent and informed decision making.

The Air Quality Officer's Forum acts as the steering committee of the project and that their role will both be in an advisory capacity but also to develop skills and capacity for implementing the plan.

The Objective of the Multi-Stakeholder Reference Group

Given the mandate described above, the overall objective of the Priority Area Air Quality Multi-stakeholder Reference Group may be framed as a desired outcome as follows –

Air quality in the declared priority area is efficiently and effectively brought into compliance with the proposed ambient air quality standards within agreed timeframes as a result of, among others, transparent, coordinated, cooperative and participatory approach involving a diversity of stakeholders for common air quality solutions.

The MSRG Structure Membership

A maximum of 15 representatives (see Annexure 2) is required for this group. Members sought are those who are familiar with air quality issues, have a scientific background and experience, represent broad organisations and have experience in participating on behalf of their organisations in multi-stakeholder discussions. The Reference Group nominations for membership were sought from:

• Business and industry representatives  
• Non Governmental Orgnisations
• Community Based Organisations and
• Academia
• Labor

Nominations from other sources will also be considered, as long as the nominated individual fits the profile and the number does not exceed 15 individuals.  Other air quality specialist may be invited by DEA to attend as expert advisors.  Interested stakeholders including DEA staff who are not members may attend the Reference Group meetings as observers depending on space availability, with priority given to stakeholders with broadly relevant air quality views.

Members of the MSRG also include:

• Other identified air quality management officials as required for the effective operation of the Reference Group; and
• Identified representatives of other relevant sectors.

It must be noted that the onus is on members and alternates to provide the Multi-stakeholder Reference Group secretary with up to date contact information for members and alternates as the secretariat will only circulate Reference Group related announcements and documentation to recognised members and alternates.

MSRG RESPONSIBILITIES

All Forum participants are required to address the following issues and will provide DEAT with specific recommendations on a continuous basis:

• Identify and submit for discussion any issue that falls within the focus of the Reference Group that may have an impact on the objectives of the Reference Group;
• Read all and  gain the necessary mandates for positions in respect of documentation circulated with the meeting agenda;
• Inform the National Air Quality Officer of the views of stakeholders regarding the proposed ways and means to bring air quality into compliance with the proposed national ambient air quality standards;
• Advise the National Air Quality Officer on any matter concerning air quality management and governance and specifically the setting and achievement of objectives and priorities for air quality governance;
• Advise the National Air Quality Officer on appropriate methods of monitoring compliance with the proposed plan
• Undertake other tasks as necessary and reasonably practicable between meetings and during the implementation of this programme;
• Prepare recommendations and consider the opinions and concerns expressed by other stakeholders;
• Identify and resolve the differing views on any areas of disagreement and issues which need to be resolved;
• Advise on further technical work that DEAT should undertake to support the programme;
• Advise and assist the implementation plan service provider in ensuring that the consultation process and its outputs meet the needs and expectations of the stakeholders and that the process is run in a cost-effective manner and
• Provide a communications link between DEAT and organisations they represent in respect of this matter.

Members of the Reference Group will be expected to make every effort to ensure that their views reflect the objectives of the programme not only personal views or those of their organization and also communicate the fact of their participation and the positions they will be taking on various issues in this programme. In recognition of the time necessary for the Reference Group members to get feedback from their constituencies, DEAT will endeavor to provide discussion materials in advance of meetings (generally 2 weeks).

The draft HPA AQMP will be published in the National Gazette before the end of April 2011 for public comments for a period of 60 days.  This is aimed at providing stakeholders and the public at large the opportunity to give inputs/comments on the report prior its final publication.  Once the latter is effected, the Plan becomes "Law" in accordance with Regulations to be developed.

The service provider is currently planning a road-show to announce the publication of the draft HPA AQMP and to raise awareness and to share information with the larger public and all stakeholders.   Watch this space for the road-show date in May 2011. Please note, all project documents will be made available on DEAT's website www.environment.gov.za

Stakeholders can comment in writing, by telephone or by attending meetings as indicated in the process diagram on page. Documents such as the Baseline Characterisation findings, Air Quality Management system Design, Emission Reduction Program and the draft Air Quality Management Plan will be distributed to stakeholders for their comments.

 HIGHVELD PRIORITY AREA

Based on the Minister’s reasonable belief that the eastern portion of Gauteng and the western portion of Mpumalanga province represented an area that was exceeding ambient air quality standards, the Minister declared this area as the “Highveld Priority Area” in terms of Section 18 of the National Environmental Management:  Air Quality Act, 2004 (No. 39 of 2004, “the AQA”) on 23 November 2007.

In response to the Minister’s declaration, and in line with the requirements of the AQA in this regard, the department immediately initiated the development of an air quality monitoring network for the area as well as the participatory development of the required air quality management plan for the Highveld priority Area.

To this end –

• 5 high-tech monitoring stations were established in the Priority Area – the so-called Highveld Priority Area Air Quality Monitoring Network;
• Professional consultants were employed to assist the department in the development of the required plan;
• The Highveld Priority Area Air Quality Officer’s Forum (AQOF) was established to ensure efficient and effective intergovernmental coordination in the development of the required plan; and
• The Highveld Priority Area Multi-Stakeholder Reference Group (MSRG) made of representatives of all interested and affected parties was established to ensure the fully participatory development of the required plan.

The following table provides a summary of the Highveld Priority Area Air Quality Management Plan development process to date –

Air Quality Problems in the Highveld Priority Area

One of the initial activities which informed the Highveld Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) development process was the Baseline Assessment study. This study provided the status-quo of air quality in this priority area. The major findings from the Baseline Assessment study are summarised as follows:

 Most of the HPA experiences relatively good air quality, but there are nine extensive areas where ambient air quality standards for sulphur dioxide (SO₂), particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less (PM₁₀) and ozone (O₃) concentrations are exceeded.  The air quality hotspots result mostly from a combination of emissions from the different industrial sectors and residential fuel burning, with motor vehicle emissions, mining and cross-boundary transport of pollutants into the HPA adding to the base loading. 

Existing monitoring confirms that the areas of concern are in the vicinity of Witbank, Middelburg, Secunda, Ermelo, Standerton, Balfour, and Komati where exceedances of ambient SO₂ and PM₁₀ air quality standards occur.  The effects of poor dispersion conditions in the winter are evident throughout the monitoring record for all pollutants, resulting in greater frequency of exceedances of the standards. PM₁₀ displays this seasonal trend most strikingly, showing a sharp contrast between wintertime peaks and summer minimum values at monitoring sites. Seasonal trends are clearly observed for O₃ in the monitoring record, as springtime peaks are easily identified. Monitoring data show carbon monoxide (CO) and benzene to be within acceptable limits at the new sites. Trends in pollutant concentrations, based on current data, cannot be conclusively identified, marred in particular by poor data collection.

• The total annual emissions of fine particulate matter (PM₁₀) on the HPA is estimated at 279 630 tons, of which approximately half is attributed to dust entrainment on mine haul roads.  The emission of PM₁₀ from the primary metallurgical industry accounts for 17% of the total emission, with 12% of the total from power generation.  By contrast, power generation contributes 73% of the total estimated oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emission of 978 781 tons per annum and 82% of the total estimated SO₂ emission of 1 622 233 tons per annum.
• Industrial sources in total are by far the largest contributors of emissions in the HPA, accounting for 89% of PM10, 90% of NOx and 99% of SO₂.
• One of the major contributors to air pollution, particularly in urban areas, is motor vehicle emissions, including NOx, CO, PM10 and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including benzene (C6H6).  
• Using MODIS 500 m fire scar data and the SA National Land Cover Atlas (2000), an advanced biomass burning emissions inventory based on “burnt land cover” was developed and used to estimate annual emissions from biomass fires on HPA in kilotonne/annum.

      Identified Hotspot Zones  

Based on the outcome of the Baseline Assessment study, six priority areas where intervention strategies will take priority were identified, based on the predicted ambient air concentrations from the priority pollutants and exposure potential.  The nine hotspot areas are Emalahleni, Kriel, Steve Tshwete, Ermelo, Secunda, Ekurhuleni, Lekwa, Balfour and Delmas.

                Industrial Intervention Strategies

In terms of section 5.2 of the Plan, industries were requested to submit detailed emission reduction strategies with written approval by their management or activities already under implementation during 2010. About 16 industries responded positively and interventions will be incorporated into the draft plan as annexure, to be unpacked and populated into the template for the final HPA AQMP. The template comprises among others, emission reduction interventions, full descriptions of emission interventions, compliance date, estimated costs where possible and progress.  Atmospheric Emission License numbers will also be attached to the interventions in the final plan. These will be used as a tool to measure progress towards the overall objective of reducing emissions in this priority area beyond national standards.

               The next steps

Section 57(1) of the AQA requires the Minister to give notice of the proposed Plan - (a) in the Gazette; and (b) in at least one newspaper distributed nationally or, in at least one newspaper distributed in the Highveld Priority Area. In accordance with Section 57(2) of the AQA, the notice described above must - (a) invite members of the public to submit written representations on or objections to the proposed Plan to you within 30 days of publication of the notice in the Gazette; and (b) contain sufficient information to enable members of the public to submit meaningful representations or objections.

In terms of Section 57(3) of the AQA, the MInister may in appropriate circumstances allow any interested person or community to present oral representations or objections to the draft, or a person designated by the Minister.  In terms of Section 57(4), the Minister must give due consideration to all representations or objections received or presented before finalising the Highveld Priority Area Air Quality Management Plan. 

With this in mind, the department is satisfied that the process of developing the draft Highveld Priority Area Air Quality Management Plan has resulted in a plan of suitable quality for publication for public comment. The draft HPA AQMP and the executive summary have now been finalised for the MInister's approval and are ready for publication in the gazette for public comment for a period of 60 days.  Only the executive summary will be published in the gazette, with reference to the comprehensive draft plan (with industrial interventions as annexure) on the South African Air Quality Information System.

The draft HPA AQMP will be published in the National Gazette before the end of April 2011.