Search

Under the EC National Emissions Ceiling Directive (NECD 2016/2284), EU member states are required to monitor (Article 9) and report (Article 10.4) air pollution pressure and impacts on ecosystems that are representative of each country’s freshwater, forest, natural and semi-natural habitats. Ireland developed the National Ecosystem Monitoring Network (NEMN) in 2018, with the first data submission on 1st July 2019. In response to recommendations from the EC, Ireland is seeking to improve its NEMN. In this document, we propose methods for monitoring air quality and ecosystem parameters, and for selecting sites to be included in NEMN to improve representative coverage across sensitive habitat types and major pollution gradients. The air pollution impacts of interest are in the first instance those relating to the substances for which reduction commitments are set in Annex II to the NECD (i.e. SO2, NOX, NMVOC and NH3), that is those contributing to acidification and eutrophication of ecosystems, and as precursors of ozone damage to vegetation growth and biodiversity changes. The development of the NEMN is intended to be an iterative process, with incremental improvements over time. The existing network is composed of International Co-operative Programme (ICP) Forests and Waters sites operated under the Air Convention (UN-ECE CLRTAP) and Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), respectively. The existing network structure is based on that of ICP Forests, which is composed of two networks with different monitoring intensity, Level II and Level I. Environmental Protection Agency

Atmospheric ammonia poses a significant threat to biodiversity and human health around the world. A high concentration can result in significant changes to the structure of ecosystems, as atmospheric ammonia is particularly harmful to a number of nitrogen-sensitive habitats (bogs, heath, semi-natural grasslands, etc.). In addition, ammonia reacts with other pollutants in the air to form particulate matter, which disperses over great distances. Atmospheric particulate matter has been linked to a range of pulmonary and cardiac issues in humans. Concentrations of ammonia in the air downwind of hotspot sources, such as pig and poultry farms, are likely to negatively affect the environment. The contribution of multiple sources of ammonia to cumulative impacts in Ireland is currently poorly understood. The AmmoniaN2K project aimed to assist the EPA licensing of intensive agriculture installations (pig and poultry farms) in Ireland. This work is particularly relevant to appropriate assessments on Natura 2000 sites under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), where modelling of contributions from agricultural sources is required. Emission rates generated and recommendations from detailed monitoring will support future assessments. The identification of farms below the Industrial Emission Directive (2010/75/EU) threshold will also assist the required cumulative impact assessments under appropriate assessment. This information has also aided the spatial reporting of emissions, which has benefited European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme concentration and deposition modelling. The emission rates generated can be used to validate and inform the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register reporting of national emissions in Ireland. Improving inventory reporting is a vital step to ensure compliance with limits set under the National Emissions Ceilings Directive (2016/2284/EU) –Ireland currently exceeds its ammonia emission limit under this directive. Monitoring on Natura 2000 sites has highlighted the need for alternative agricultural practices to reduce this impact. The AmmoniaN2K project quantified and assessed the impact of ammonia emissions from intensive pig and poultry units on Natura 2000 sites in Ireland. This was done by monitoring detailed ammonia emissions from 17 animal production houses across four farms. These rates are compared with best available techniques-ammonia emission levels (BAT-AELs), past monitoring in Ireland and recommended rates by Simple Calculation of Atmospheric Impact Limits (SCAIL-Agriculture). Dispersion modelling of all farms was conducted using monitored rates to identify distance downwind from where both impacts and estimated minimum contributions occurred. An approach to identify farms below the Industrial Emission Directive (2010/75/EU) threshold was developed, in order to identify the total number of intensive agriculture units that are proximal to Natura 2000 sites. The Mapping Ammonia Risk on Sensitive Habitats (MARSH) model, developed as part of this study, assigned a risk of impacts from all sources of ammonia (including cattle and sheep) to Natura 2000 sites in Ireland. This model was checked against monitoring on Natura 2000 sites, which also identified potential impacts at these locations. Environmental Protection Agency Watch Project Highlights Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLdfyTCCh50&feature=youtu.be 2020-10-22 JG: 5 appendix bitstreams updated at author's request 2020-10-23 JG: 2 appendix bitstreams updated at author's request