DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM
DEPARTEMENT VAN OMGEWINGSAKE EN TOERISME
Ref: 02/1/5/2
MINISTER
QUESTION NO. 773 FOR WRITTEN REPLY: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
A draft reply to Mr G R Krumbock (DA) to the above-mentioned question is
enclosed for your consideration.
Ms. Nosipho Ngcaba
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
DATE:
DRAFT REPLY APPROVED/AMENDED
MINISTER
DATE:
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
(For written reply)
QUESTION NO. 773
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 9 of 2009
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 14 August 2009
Mr G R Krumbock (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental
Affairs:
(1) Whether, with reference to her reply to Question 498 on 31 July 2009,
her department will conduct an epidemiological research study to
assess the health impact of emissions from the fish factories in St
Helena Bay; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether her department will assess the emissions levels of hydrogen
sulphide from these factories; if not, why not; if so, what are the
relevant details;
(3) what will the maximum permissible concentration of hydrogen sulphide
in emissions from factories be in terms of the National Environmental
Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (Act No. 39 of 2004) that will come
into effect in September 2009?
NW902E
MR G R KRUMBOCK (DA)
SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT
HANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS
773. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
(1) In fish processing plants, hydrogen sulphide is produced during the
bacterial breakdown of organic matter and the odour complaint could be
evidence of its production. However, the amounts (concentrations) are
unknown. The chemical is more likely to affect employees in the fish
processing plant than the community due to dispersion and diffusion in
the air, and that hydrogen sulphide evaporates easily in the air.
Hence, an epidemiological study will not be an appropriate
intervention to determine the extent of the alleged problem and its
possible impact on health due to the fact that there is no evidence of
exposure (no measurements were taken to determine exposure levels) to
hydrogen sulphide and other potential hazards from the fish processing
factories. Furthermore, before an expensive and time-consuming
epidemiological study can be justified, the impact on the odour levels
resulting from revised emission permit conditions (see 2) should be
assessed.
(2) The National Department of Environmental Affairs, together with the
Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development
Planning and the West Coast District Municipality are currently
revising the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act (APPA) registration
certificates for the fish meal sector. The objective of this project
is to review and amend the Registration Certificates for the fish meal
sector in such a way as to ensure the building of initial air quality
management capacity in provinces and affected local authorities, as
well as ensuring measurable air quality improvements during, and
immediately following, the period of transition between APPA and AQA.
The specific conditions that will form part of the new registration
certificates are still in the process of being formulated, but they
will take the odour issues into consideration.
The odours emanating from fish meal plants are not only hydrogen
sulphide, but a variety of reduced sulphur compounds. Conditions are
being drafted that look to control the suite of compounds that are
generated by the plants. The feasibility of assessing the emission
levels will be looked at during the review process.
(3) No specific maximum permissible concentration of hydrogen sulphide
has been specified in the Draft Section 21 notice on listed activities
and minimum emission standards, published for public comment on 24
July 2009. As explained above, the odour problem associated with fish
meal plants stems from a variety of reduced sulphur compounds and the
management of these odours relates to freshness of the fish being
processed, with fresh fish producing less odours than rotten and
decaying fish.