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TRANENT - Charles River Laboratories, Tranent, East Lothian EH33 2NE - map location || company website
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The following information, including emission breaches in 2008/9, was provided by SEPA on 4 February 2010
Charles River Laboratories carry out animal research for the pharmaceutical industry. The site was granted a PPC Part A permit in December 2005 having previously operated under LAPC and latterly PPC part B permit. The permit is for incineration of non hazardous waste in an incineration plant which is an activity requiring a permit from SEPA under Schedule 1, Section 5.1 Part A of the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (as amended) The incinerator in question is rated at up to 450kg/hr.
The following exceedances of emission limit values were identified during 2008/09:
2007
3.19kg of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (four indicator compounds of LRTAP) - click here for more details
2008
14 May 2008 – Nox exceedance (CEM result) 407.50mg/m3 (limit 400mg/m3)
14 May 2008 – Nox exceedance (CEM result) 437.20mg/m3 (limit 400mg/m3)
20 May 2008 – Nox exceedance (CEM result) 427.85mg/m3 (limit 400mg/m3)
21 May 2008 – Nox exceedance (CEM result) 402.01mg/m3 (limit 400mg/m3)
Nox reduction techniques were installed at the end Dec 2008 during change over from kerosene to natural gas as the support fuel. Reduction in Nox emissions has been demonstrated with an extractive monitoring result of 174mg/m3 in 2009
23 June 2008 – Particulate matter exceedance (CEM result) 34.51mg/m3 (limit 30mg/m3) reported although thought to be rogue result through CEM probe damage. Probe replaced.
2009
10 February 2009 - Particulate matter (SEPA monitoring) exceedance 122 and 131mg/m3 (limit 30mg/m3)
11 February 2009 – Heavy metals (SEPA monitoring) exceedance 0.9 and 0.99mg/m3 (limit 0.5mg/m3)
25 February 2009 – Dioxins exceedance (Operator submitted monitoring) 0.4255ng/m3 (limit 0.1ng/m3)
SEPA issued an enforcement notice in relation to the February 2009 exceedances. Problem identified as cracking within the abatement plant that was not identified due to the operation of a new and uncalibrated continuous monitoring device. All devices were subsequently calibrated, maintenance was carried out on abatement plant and monitoring submitted demonstrating compliance. The operator suspended incineration until the fault had been resolved.
3, 4, 5 July 2009 – Particulate matter exceedance (CEM result) 12, 11, 17.12mg/m3 (CEM limit 10mg/m3)
5 July 2009 – VOC exceedance (CEM result) 19.17mg/m3 (CEM limit 10mg/m3)
SEPA issued an enforcement notice in relation to the July 2009 exceedances. Problem identified as failing seals within the abatement system and a lack of training leading to continued incineration despite VOC exceedances. The abatement plant was subject to a major overhaul with a training package rolled out to all operatives. The operator suspended incineration until the fault had been resolved.