Compatibility between BoM Guidelines and the Australian Standard on Meteorological Station Installation for Air Quality Monitoring
The Queensland Government is seeking to facilitate mining of ‘critical’ minerals such as graphite, copper, cobalt, nickel, tungsten, alumina, vanadium, high purity silica sands and rare earth elements.
The Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) has released general Environmental Authority (EA) conditions for resource activities associated with these critical minerals. These conditions outline expectations for how operators manage environmental risks and offer a consistent starting point for EA applications. Appropriate conditions that manage site-specific risks of harm can then be added within this framework.
Trinity notes the inclusion of two conditions not in the current DETSI Model mining conditions guideline:
- Condition D1 requires that noise must not include “substantial low frequency”. The glossary defines this as noise exceeding 55 dBZ at a sensitive place (which is a low frequency criterion commonly referred to by DETSI).
- Condition B11 in relation to air quality monitoring states that meteorological stations must be installed in accordance with the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) Observation Specification No. 2013.1 Guidelines for the siting and exposure of meteorological instruments and observing facilities. This has raised questions about how that guidance aligns with the meteorological monitoring standard AS/NZS 3580.14:2014 for air quality monitoring applications.
Condition B11 is the focus of this article.
Understanding the Role of Each Document
BoM Observation Specification No. 2013.1
The BoM guidelines set out detailed siting and exposure requirements for a broad range of meteorological instruments for purposes such as providing data to the aviation industry. It covers distances from obstructions, landscape considerations, instrument enclosure layouts and avoidance of artificial heat or airflow influences. Its purpose is to help ensure measurements reflect the surrounding environment. It’s worth noting that the current guideline is dated 1997.
AS/NZS 3580.14:2014
AS/NZS 3580.14 provides methods for collecting meteorological data specifically for ambient air quality monitoring and dispersion modelling. It includes minimum instrument performance specifications, calibration expectations, averaging methods, uncertainty evaluation and reporting requirements. It focuses on data quality and consistency but also contains some siting requirements.
Compatibility of the Guidelines
A review of both documents suggests they generally complement one another rather than conflict. However, there are some differences in the detail of siting requirements. BoM places Automatic Weather Station temperature sensors at 1.1 metres above ground, while AS/NZS 3580.14 recommends a height of at least 2 metres for air temperature. The difference may reflect different circumstances, purposes or apparatuses.
BoM offers more detailed geometric rules especially for wind and solar exposure. AS/NZS 3580.14 includes calibration intervals and uncertainty requirements that BoM does not address. These appear to be supplementary rather than contradictory.
Implications for ‘Critical’ Minerals Projects
Condition B11 may prompt project teams to examine how meteorological stations are located, particularly where obstructions, terrain or infrastructure limit siting options. Environmental officers who currently apply AS/NZS 3580.14 for air quality purposes will continue to find it relevant however may wish to consider cross-checking with the BoM specification for detailed instrument setup requirements.
How Trinity Can Assist
The recently released EA conditions provide a framework for managing environmental risks associated with critical minerals activities. The conditions will affect all new or pending approvals and any future amendments.
Trinity Consultants Australia works with operators in the resources sector to interpret evolving regulatory requirements and develop practical approaches to environmental monitoring. To discuss how the conditions may affect your project or explore tailored air quality monitoring solutions, contact our team at [email protected].
Click here to read: DETSI’s ‘General conditions for critical minerals projects’ and BoM’s Observation Specification.
