Environmental Monitoring The licences issued by the Irish EPA for scheduled activities specified in the First Schedule to the Environmental Protection Agency Acts 1992 and 2003 (i.e. IPPC activities) and the Third and Fourth Schedules to the Waste Management Acts 1996 to 2003 (e.g. landfills, transfer stations and material recovery facilities) may have conditions attached to control noise nuisance, fugitive dust and water pollution. This may also be the case with permits and planning permissions issued by Local Authorities in Ireland OAKLIX Consulting specialise in the effective monitoring of noise, dust, and water bodies. We also conduct baseline monitoring in and around the location of a proposed facility so as to establish background environmental conditions prior to any development of the proposed facility.

Water Monitoring

The four water categories: river, lakes, groundwater, transitional and coastal waters come under the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), Directive 2000/60/EC. The objective of the WFD is to prevent any further deterioration in status of surface waters, groundwater and water dependent ecosystems and to restore polluted waterbodies to at least “good status” by 2015. Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in pore spaces and fractures of geologic formations. If the geologic formation can yield enough water for a significant water supply then the term aquifer is often used. The study of groundwater distribution and movement is commonly termed hydrogeology. Surface water include rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal water. The main threat to surface water quality is eutrophication, which is the over-abundant growth of plant and algae arising from excess nutrients in the water. The nutrients of concern are phosphorus and nitrogen, which come mainly from agricultural manures and fertilisers, sewage and detergents. OAKLIX Consulting conduct water sampling for our clients as required under conditions of their planning permission or licence. The water samples are sent for analysis to an accredited laboratory within the specified time frames for analysis.

Dust Monitoring

Dust is a general name for minute solid particles with diameters less than 500 micrometer. Airborne dust is considered an aerosol. Because dust in the air is a serious health threat, especially to children, older people, and those with respiratory illnesses, facilities that generate dust are obliged to eradicate or minimise it in their operations. Dust emissions from construction and other operational activities have the potential to cause nuisance to site neighbours and could be a health hazard for site workers, neighbours and visitors. OAKLIX Consulting use the Bergerhoff dust method to obtain dust levels at construction sites and other operational facilities. The Bergerhoff method measures airborne dustfall and may be use as a measurement aid in the control of dust limits as part of waste or IPPCs licences set out by Regulatory Authorities. Dust collecting jars are left onsite for a period usually of 30 days. These collecting jars are taken to an accredited laboratory for analysis. The result obtained from the laboratory with the amount of days the dust jar has been on site once calculated, will give the dustfall per mg/m2/day. All dust samples are measured in accordance to EPA guidelines and results are calculated to Luft standards VDI 2119.

Noise Monitoring

Noise has been defined as any sound which has the potential to cause disturbance, discomfort or psychological stress to a subject exposed to it, or any sound which has the potential to cause actual physiological harm to a subject exposed to it or physical damage to any structure exposed to it. Noise (and sound) is usually measured on the decibel scale, which is a logarithmic scale, based on a ratio to a reference level (20 micropascals). The sound pressure level (Lp) in decibels, corresponding to a sound pressure, p, is defined by: Lp = 10 log10 (p/p0)2 = 20 log10 (p/p0). Where p0 is the reference sound pressure of 20 micropascals (μPa). During construction and possibly, operation of a facility, excessive noise levels can add to restrictions on construction or operation personnel while also being a nuisance to the general public. Once noise is monitored, controlled and below obtrusive levels, development and operation of facilities can proceed and do so without complaints from the general public and neighbouring dwellings. OAKLIX Consulting carry out environmental noise survey in accordance with BS 4142 and ISO 1996: Acoustics – ‘Description and Measurement of Environmental Noise’. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accepts this method. We also provide occupational surveys in accordance to Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Control of Noise at Work) Regulations 2006, European Communities (Protection of Workers) Exposure to noise Regulations 1990 (SI no.157 of 1990).