Fine dust to be subject to emission credit

The Ministry of Environment has decided to include fine dust in the target of emission credit on air pollutants in metropolitan areas on the ground that the fine dust emitted from factories and power plants in the Seoul metropolitan area has harmful influence on air quality. Under the credit system, the workplaces that emit 4 tons or higher target pollutant a year are given the maximum emission allowance and will be imposed with penalty if they violate the credit limit. Currently, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur oxides (SOx) are subject to the emission credit.

Last year when the 2nd basic plan for atmospheric environment management in the Seoul metropolitan area was being drafted, the government reviewed this measure but failed its adoption due to strong opposition from the industry. Since then, experts have continuously raised their voices that find dust is so harmful for people’s health and life, and therefore, its emission should be controlled. More specific level and how to measure the level will be determined after professional ideas have been collected from relevant government agencies and experts.

It was also decided that a special weather report system for yellow and fine dust, which have caused confusion due to different responsible agencies, will be unified. The management standard for fine dust will change from the previous PM 10 (particle size of 10μm or smaller) to PM2.5 (particle size of 2.5μm or smaller) and pollution monitoring system be massively expanded focusing on ultra fine dust.

The government had a meeting on Saturday and discussed measures to tackle fine dust issues. During the meeting, the ministry, the Korea Meteorological Administration and the National Institute of Environmental Research agreed to change the standard from PM10 fine dust to PM2.5 ultra fine dust. To this end, more pollution monitoring system for PM2.5 will be set up by revising guidelines for building and operating the monitoring system. Currently, there are 145 monitoring systems for PM2.5 nationwide, only 40 percent that of PM10 monitoring system.

In addition, the special weather report systems (watch and warning), which have been separated to the Korea Meteorological Administration and the National Institute of Environmental Research under the ministry will be integrated. For starters, the applied standard is to be unified. “The special weather report system for the case in which an average concentration per m³ is 300μm or higher will first be integrated," sources at the weather agency said. "The case is likely to be issued as special weather report for yellow and fine dust."