POLLUTANT RELEASE AND TRANSFER REGISTER IN THE NETHERLANDS Pieter van der Most

Contents Introduction Introduction o What is a Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR)? o Why a PRTR? o General aspects Some applications Some applications o Comparing calculated concentrations with measurements o Comparing calculated concentrations with measurements o Controlling mandatory reported data from industry o Controlling mandatory reported data from industry o Greenhouse gas reporting o Greenhouse gas reporting o Contribution to the EU Water Framework Directive requirements o Contribution to the EU Water Framework Directive requirements Conclusions Conclusions Quality control : some examples from practice Quality control : some examples from practice

Why a PRTR ? Designing policies Designing policies Monitoring the results Monitoring the results Informing the public Informing the public Providing international reporting obligations Providing international reporting obligations

General aspects Ultimate goal: Relation between environmental quality and the relevant activities Relation between environmental quality and the relevant activitiesNecessary: Geographical database Geographical database Emissions to all compartments Emissions to all compartments Transfer module Transfer module Pollutant transport models Pollutant transport models Adequate and well located measurements Adequate and well located measurements

Organisation Coordination between relevant partners Coordination between relevant partners Well defined agreement on costs and responsibilities Well defined agreement on costs and responsibilities Expert teams deciding on methods and emission factors Expert teams deciding on methods and emission factors Transparency in reporting Transparency in reporting

Some applications Comparing calculated emissions with measurements Comparing calculated emissions with measurements Controlling mandatory reported data from industry Controlling mandatory reported data from industry Greenhouse gas emissions reporting Greenhouse gas emissions reporting Contribution to the Water Framework Directive requirements Contribution to the Water Framework Directive requirements

Conclusions A PRTR is an effective tool for defining a policy and monitoring the results A PRTR is an effective tool for defining a policy and monitoring the results A good organisation and a well defined agreement between the organisations involved is essential A good organisation and a well defined agreement between the organisations involved is essential The system should be transparent and able to provide also non-experts with a clear overview The system should be transparent and able to provide also non-experts with a clear overview

Quality - Cases from practice Measurements at the site level Measurements at the site level Mass balance over a production site Mass balance over a production site Comparing calculated concentrations in the environment with measured values Comparing calculated concentrations in the environment with measured values