Discussion on alternative plans of the stack heights for the environmental impact assessment of air quality

Abstract

There are many cases where alternative plans of the stack height are compared at the stage of the Document on Primary Environmental Impact Consideration. Almost no difference, however, exists in the prediction results of air pollutants concentration among alternative plans. In this paper, an appropriate approach for the examination of alternative plans of the stack heights is proposed based on the survey of Environmental Impact Statements and the calculation of atmospheric dispersion considering unique meteorological conditions such as building downwash, stack tip downwash, fumigation and atmospheric inversion. As a result of the low stack heights of 50 - 60 m, the effects of unique meteorological conditions cause a meaningful increase of air pollutants concentration. Examination of alternative plans is required for a low stack.