Environmental Assessment
Volume B-3.4
Mine
Climate and Air Quality
Ambatovy Project
52
January 2006
have a thick layer of ferricrete which will reduce dust generation. Also, the
proponent will mitigate dust generation by watering on-site roads.
Table 3.4-7 Summary of Air Quality Predictions in the Mine Study Area
Averaging Period
Parameter
24-Hour
Annual
Sulphur Dioxide (SO
2
)
maximum SO
2
concentration [µg/m³]
258.3
152.0
maximum SO
2
concentration outside mine buffer [µg/m³]
111.2
52.3
distance to maximum concentration [km]
(a)
5.2
5.2
direction to maximum concentration
(a)
NNE
NNE
World Bank Open Pit Mining SO
2
Criteria [µg/m³]
500
100
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO
2
)
maximum NO
X
concentration [µg/m³]
1,144.2
577.6
maximum NO
2
concentration [µg/m³]
165.2
117.9
maximum NO
2
concentration outside mine buffer [µg/m³]
126.9
85.9
distance to maximum concentration [km]
(a)
1.0
1.0
direction to maximum concentration
(a)
WNW
WNW
World Bank Open Pit Mining NO
2
Criteria [µg/m³]
200
100
Total Suspended Particulate (TSP)
maximum TSP concentration [µg/m³]
—
220.9
maximum TSP concentration outside mine buffer [µg/m³]
—
79.4
distance to maximum concentration [km]
(a)
—
2.9
direction to maximum concentration
(a)
—
N
World Bank TSP Criteria [µg/m³]
—
80
Particulate Matter (PM
10
)
maximum PM
10
concentration [µg/m³]
127.9
78.9
maximum PM
10
concentration outside mine buffer [µg/m³]
53.0
28.0
distance to maximum concentration [km]
(a)
2.9
2.9
direction to maximum concentration
(a)
N
N
World Bank Open Pit Mining PM
10
Criteria [µg/m³]
500
100
(a)
Distance and direction are from the slurry processing area to the maximum concentration outside the mine buffer.
Tables 3.4-8 to 3.4-10 show the maximum predicted 24-hour and annual SO
2
,
NO
2
, TSP and PM
10
concentrations at the communities due to emissions from the
mine. Background concentrations due to community activities have not been
added to the predictions due to lack of existing ambient air quality information.
None of the concentrations exceed the World Bank criteria. Annual
concentrations of lead and mercury were also predicted at communities and all
values were well below the WHO annual criteria of 0.5 and 1 µg/m³,
respectively. The results are shown in Volume I, Appendix 4.2, Section 3.4.4.
