AIRPOLLUTANTS-NationalEnvironmentPlanningAgency.doc

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT for THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW INCINERATOR at the UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL OF THE WEST INDIES Ianthe Smith Environmental Engineering Consultant February 3, 2004 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Executive Summary 6 Purpose need for the project 10 Applicable Environmental Policy, Legal, Regulatory and Approval Frameworks 10 Applicable Legislation 10 Input from other agencies 13 Description of Project, Owner and Applicant 14 History and Function of the Hospital 14 Location 14 Mission Statement of the University Hospital of the West Indies 15 Vision Statement of the University Hospital of the West Indies 15 Incineration 15 Incinerator in Jamaica similar to the proposed Incinerator 16 3.7 The Proposed Incinerator 19 Sizing of Incinerator 28 Quantity and Types of Waste to be Incinerated 28 Installation Commissioning 31 Cost Issues 32 Alternatives to project 34 The “Do Nothing” Alternative 34 Alternative (Non-incineration) Treatment Methods 35 Thermal Processes 35 Low-Heat Thermal Processes 35 Wet Heat Treatment Systems 36 Dry Heat Treatment Systems 48 Medium Heat Thermal Processes 54 High Heat Thermal Processes 57 Chemical Based Technologies 62 Irradiation Technologies 64 Biological Processes 67 Mechanical Processes 68 Third Party Services 73 Description of Baseline/Affected Areas 73 Rainfall 74 Temperature 74 Wind 74 Sunshine 74 Relative Humidity 74 The Construction Site 75 Significant Environmental Impacts of Construction, Operation of the new Incinerator and Mitigation Measures 80 Construction of the New Incinerator 81 Operation 84 Potential Positive Impacts from the New Incinerator 89 Cost Implications associated with Mitigation Measures 89 Screening Mode