Outside Air Quality Tracking Section
The specializations of outside air quality tracking section:
- Review and update if necessary the standards of air quality and noise for the internal environment and the external air, in a manner consistent with national conditions and international and indicative standards for the countries of the Cooperation Council, every five years.
- Determining and approving the sites for monitoring and following up the air quality in the national monitoring network or the supporting networks affiliated with the public or private authorities in the State of Kuwait, and determining the types of pollutants that must be monitored in each station in addition to the devices supporting the pollutant monitoring operations.
- Determining and approving the locations of noise monitoring stations in the national monitoring network or the supporting networks of the public or private authorities in the State of Kuwait, and taking measures to ensure that they do not exceed the limits mentioned in the executive regulations of the Environmental Protection Law.
- Preparing a study every ten years indicating the extent of coverage of the national air quality tracking network and the supporting networks of populated areas and the need to expand their scope.
- Follow up the air quality or noise data that is monitored through monitoring stations, monitor the air quality or noise and approve it, and take the necessary measures when their concentrations are higher than normal limits or the approved standards mentioned in the executive regulations of the Environmental Protection Law.
- Reviewing air quality or noise reports for the internal environment and the external air received from public and private agencies and taking measures to ensure that the data do not exceed the permissible limits mentioned in the executive regulations of the Environmental Protection Law.
- Reviewing the air quality section of environmental impact assessment reports that are received by Environment Public Authority and work needed to ensure that pollutants or noise do not exceed the permissible limits and standards contained in the executive regulations of the Environmental Protection Law.
- Preparing plans and programs for air quality tracking of the internal environment of public and private entities and audit their commitment to the permissible standards for air quality in the interior environment through detection, collection of samples, analysis, and review of the records of air quality in their internal environment.
- Studying the complaints received by the department regarding air quality or noise and take the necessary measures to prevent pollutants or noise from exceeding the limits or the permissible standards mentioned in the executive regulations of the Environmental Protection Law.
- Suggesting means to develop and improve the services of air quality tracking stations.
- Prepare the annual work plan and the proposed operational budget for the department and present it to the department director.
- Prepare periodic reports on the activities and achievements of the department and present them to the department director.
The procedures of outside air quality tracking section:
- Follow-up to new international and Gulf decisions and laws regarding setting air quality standards and outdoor air noise.
- Suggesting the formation of a working group or committee that includes specialists in the field to review the air quality standards and the approved noise and develop them in a way that suits the national conditions of the State of Kuwait.
- Providing the updated air quality and noise standards to the higher management for approval by the authority’s board of directors and organizing forums to inform the authority of developments regarding air quality standards.
- The use of appropriate propagation systems that show by entering emissions data for different activities and sources in the State of Kuwait, the prevalence of these pollutants in the outdoor air, the concentrations of those pollutants, and the identification of hotspots, which through which areas are to be monitored by installing fixed air quality monitoring stations to monitor pollutants that have been determining it through the system, or installing monitoring stations for reference pollutants and other pollutants in addition to weather monitoring devices in areas with large population counts in proportion to the sizes and numbers of residents in the regions of the State of Kuwait.
- Using appropriate propagation systems that are shown by entering noise data for the various sources and activities in the State of Kuwait. The regions are strongly affected by noise from their sources to define areas to be monitored by installing fixed stations to monitor the intensity of the noise that has been identified through the system, or installing monitoring stations in the regions with a large population in proportion to the population in the regions of the State of Kuwait.
- Continuous monitoring of pollutants through air quality tracking networks and the creation of new areas, whether residential, investment, craft or commercial, and roads. This increases the quantities and types of pollutants. Therefore, the monitoring network is evaluated and developed in a way that is appropriate for the developments through preparing and implementing an integrated study by specialists in this regard.
- Continuous follow-up through linking programs with air quality stations for data that are monitored through the national network to monitor air quality and noise on an ongoing basis, and follow the direction of the wind to recommend any rise in concentrations of pollutants to its sources.
- Coordination with the emissions monitoring department in the event that any pollutant is assigned to a specific source to communicate with him and determine the reasons.
- In the event that there is a significant increase in the concentrations of pollutants beyond the permissible limits in the monitoring system of the authority or other bodies, the emissions monitoring department is notified to take the necessary action.
- Preparing a daily direct report on the condition of the devices, which is transmitted electronically to the stations maintenance department to take the necessary action.
- Prepare monthly air quality reports with recommendations.
- Preparing the annual report.
- Reviewing reports received from various agencies and ensuring that they do not exceed national standards for air quality or noise.
- Reviewing reports received from various agencies and ensuring that they do not exceed national standards for air quality or noise.
- Measuring pollutant concentrations through mobile laboratories for reference air pollutants and other pollutants randomly, in order to ensure the safety of outdoor air quality in different regions.
- Take the necessary measures in the event that an abuse is found, whether in work or indoor environments or in the outdoor air.
- Projects implemented in the State of Kuwait are divided into two types, either projects that affect the surrounding environment or projects that affect the surrounding environment. Projects affected by the surrounding environment are required to measure pollutants affecting these areas to ensure adequate air quality for the residents or workers working in them.
- Projects that affect the surrounding environment are required to provide a scientific study on the spread of pollutants, their concentrations and their impact on the surrounding areas.
- Review the data that are included in the studies in the section on air quality to analyze it and prepare recommendations and actions that must be taken.
- Determine who should monitor air quality in the internal environment in the State of Kuwait.
- Prepare special files for each entity that includes its data and any measures taken by the Environment Public Authority towards it.
- Preparing samples for inspections on the internal environment.
- Determine the pollutants that must be measured in the internal environment according to the executive regulations.
- Determine the devices and equipment that should be used for measurement operations.
- Training the department staff in the use of devices and equipment.
- Analyzing data from measuring devices.
- Prepare an annual plan for visiting the public and private agencies of the country to measure and monitor their air quality.
- Take the necessary measures in the event of any violation of environmental standards and requirements.
- Receive the received complaint and contact the complainant to take information and set the date of the visit.
- Visit the site and take notes and documentation with pictures.
- Make the required measurements to determine the concentrations of pollutants or noise after determining the appropriate location for monitoring.
- Analysis of measurement and monitoring data and the polluter placement for a source.
- Coordination with the emission monitoring department to communicate with the source and determine the concentrations of pollutants emanating from him or to ensure that the source complies with the environmental requirements for air quality.
- Preparing the report and recommendations along with the data and pictures.
- Preparing the book to the Deputy Director General for Environmental Affairs.
- Follow-up to the global development in the processes of measuring pollutant concentrations in the air and introducing new systems and devices on the market.
- Follow-up to international organizations concerned with air quality tracking and bulletins of the updated monitoring systems.
- Identify the consultative and operational projects required to develop the department's performance and work, air quality monitoring networks, noise in work environments, the internal environment and the external air.
- Determine the requirements of the department's employees and consultants.
- Provide logistical requirements for the implementation of the department's specialties.
- Prepare periodic reports on the activities and achievements of the department and present them to the department director.