Taiwan News: 環保署預告修正特殊性工業區緩衝地帶及 空氣品質監測設施設置標準 (12 Dec 2013)

環保署預告修正特殊性工業區緩衝地帶及
空氣品質監測設施設置標準

發布日期：2013.12.12
提供單位：行政院環境保護署空保處

為使特殊性工業區空氣品質監測管制內容更為完備，環保署修正「特殊性工業區緩衝地帶及空氣品質監測設施設置標準」(以下簡稱本標準)，主要修正內容包括為符合空氣污染防制法第15條透過要求設置緩衝地帶及空氣品質監測設施，降低特殊性工業區開發行為排放空氣污染物對於環境空氣品質及民眾健康影響之立法原意，及確保特殊性工業區開發單位辦理之緩衝地帶及空氣品質監測設置事宜符合本標準規定，要求開發單位於開發特殊性工業區前，應提出緩衝地帶及空氣品質監測設施設置計畫，報請直轄市、縣(市)主管機關審查通過，始得開發；増訂主管機關審查設置計畫程序及時程限制，以提升行政效能，完備法制作業；修正101年9月22日(含)前已開發特殊性工業區實施期程，給予合理時間因應新標準大幅增加之空氣品質監測站數量、監測項目及監測頻率；同時增訂空氣品質監測站位於不同直轄市、縣(市)之空氣品質監測數據連線及人工操作監測數據申報規定，以達管制目的。 

        本次預告之相關內容，將於預告日起3日後刊載於該署全球環保網站法規命令草案預告區（網址http://ivy5.epa.gov.tw/epalaw/index.aspx），民眾可逕自上網參閱，對於公告內容有任何意見或修正建議者，請於本公告刊登公報之次日起14日內陳述意見(Email:yling@epa.gov.tw)。

source from: http://ivy5.epa.gov.tw/enews/fact_Newsdetail.asp?InputTime=1021212163934

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Hong Kong News: Air Quality Health Index to be launched on December 30 (6 Dec 2013)

Air Quality Health Index to be launched on December 30 

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     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) will launch on December 30 this year a new air pollution information system, the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI). The new system will replace the existing Air Pollution Index and communicate the health effects of air pollution more effectively.

     At a press conference on the AQHI today (December 6), Deputy Director of Environmental Protection, Mr Andrew Lai said, "The AQHI is a health risk-based index that estimates the short-term health risk caused by air pollution and provides more timely and useful air pollution information to the public."

     The AQHI is reported on a scale of 1 to 10 and 10+, and is grouped into five health risk categories, i.e. low, moderate, high, very high and serious. It also provides different health advice for people with different degrees of susceptibility to air pollution.

     It is calculated based on the cumulative health risk attributable to the three-hour moving average concentrations of four air pollutants, namely ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10).

     "The AQHI forecast also serves as an alert to the public before the onset of serious air pollution episodes and help the public to consider taking precautionary measures to protect their health as necessary," Mr Lai said.

     To facilitate timely and effective dissemination of AQHI information, the EPD has also developed a dedicated AQHI mobile application, "HK AQHI", with features such as customised filters on AQHI information by district, risk categories and an alert system for smartphone users.

     To allow interested parties to familiarise themselves with the new system earlier, the EPD will start a trial run of the AQHI on December 23, one week before the launch. The trial run will release the AQHI readings at a few air quality monitoring stations on the new AQHI website (www.aqhi.gov.hk).

     The EPD has also produced leaflets and posters on the AQHI, which are now available at public libraries, public hospitals, sports venues, public enquiry service centres of the Home Affairs Department, and environmental resources centres and regional offices of the EPD.

Ends/Friday, December 6, 2013
Issued at HKT 13:19

source from: http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201312/06/P201312060342.htm

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Chinese Updates: Shanghai unveils daily air-quality forecasts (3 Sep 2013)

Shanghai unveils daily air-quality forecasts
2013-09-03

The new 24-hour forecast includes the Air Quality Index, the pollution level and the primary pollutant, and is available for three time periods during the day: 8 pm to 6 am; 6 am to 12 am; and 12 am to 8 pm.

The time divisions aim to provide more convenient information according to the daily bedtimes and outdoor schedules of residents.

The number of pollutants changes throughout the day according to weather conditions, said an expert from Shanghai Environmental Monitoring Center, local news portal eastday.com reported.

The expert said the air-quality forecast is still being tested, and it cannot be completely accurate, especially during heavy pollution. Local environmental protection departments will try to launch more detailed forecasts in different districts after more monitoring sites have been set up, the expert added.

New standards from the national authority will bring upgrades to the city's 10 air-quality monitoring points to detect six pollutants, including respirable suspended particles, particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less, and PM2.5 fine particles.

Meteorological authorities also started issuing air-pollution forecasts on the national level on Sunday, the China Meteorological Administration announced on Monday.

The National Meteorological Center, a department under the top weather administration, is in charge of the forecasts, which will use a six-grade scale, with the first grade meaning excellent air conditions.

Higher grade numbers mean conditions are less conducive to pollutants diffusing, spreading and disappearing, according to a statement from the administration on its official website.

Each day, the center will update forecasts for the coming 24 hours at 8 am and 8 pm.

The statement said that the move would assist the government and the meteorological authority in making policies in the event of major air pollution, while it will also give the public more convenient access to air pollution information.

Source: http://english.mep.gov.cn/News_service/media_news/201309/t20130903_259453.htm

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