LOOMING DEADLINE FOR COMPLIANCE TO ATMOSPHERIC EMISSION REPORTING REGULATIONS
Title: National Atmospheric Emission Reporting Regulations, 2015
Government Notice: GN R283 in GG 38633 of 2 April 2015
Date of deadline: 31 March 2016
The purpose of these regulations is to regulate reporting of data and information form an identified point, non-point and mobile sources of atmospheric emissions to an internet based National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory System towards the compilation of atmospheric emission inventories. Shangoni attended a National Atmospheric Emission Inventory System (NAEIS) practical workshop yesterday during which the Authority confirmed that the deadline for operations to ensure compliance with these Regulations is 31 March 2016. In terms of these regulations specific operations must register on NAEIS and provide specific data on this online system.
“So what” for my operation?
These Regulations are applicable to the following operations:
• All mines;
• Operations with a facility licensed by an AEL, or that requires an AEL; and
• Operations with a facility considered a controlled emitter (such as temporary asphalt plants, small-scale char and small-scale charcoal plants and small boilers (with a design capacity equal to 10MW but less than 50MW net heat input per unit, based on the lower calorific value used)).
If you do not comply with the provisions of these Regulations, your operation (or the guilty individuals) will be liable in the case of a first conviction to a fine not exceeding R5 million or to imprisonment of a period not exceeding five years, and in the case of a second or subsequent conviction to a fine not exceeding R10 million or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years and in respect of both instances to both such fine and such imprisonment.
What is Shangoni’s approach?
Shangoni recommends the following process to be followed to ensure compliance to these Regulations:
1. Register on the NAEIS
The first step for the applicable operations will be to register. You can either self-register on NAEIS by following the following link https://saaelip.environment.gov.za/SAAELIP/home/ or you can ask the NAEIS Authority to register your source (NAEISadmin@environment.gov.za). When you register it is important that you select the ACO option and not the ECO/Consultant option. Please note, an Accounting Officer (ACO) is the person at your facility who is responsible for setting up and maintaining your NAEIS report (This is usually the responsible person on the AEL or the SHEQ managers, but it can be any other employee assigned with this responsibility). If you did your registration by yourself, it is also important to remember that you send an email to the NAEIS authority and ask them to link you with the system.
2. NAIES Reporting
Once you are linked to your facility you can continue to compile the different section of your NAEIS report. If you have a consultant assisting you in the compilation of your online NAEIS report, you can assign the consultant to your facility by following the following steps:
• sign into your NAEIS and go to my account>Manage Consultants and Preparers>Add User> Insert your consultants email address and the effective date and expiration date. Once you have done this, select Validate and Associate. Select Add Authorization and give the person the rights of preparer and/or viewer and select OK.
Once your NAEIS report is complete and you have passed the completeness test, you can submit your report. This report can also be printed to keep as a hard copy.
Important for Section 21 Sources
If you have a Section 21 source (companies with listed activities) you may very well already be registered on the system, the initial registration emails were sent to the signatories on the AEL.
If you are the signatory on the AEL but forgot your password you can follow the link and click on Forget Password, there will be a pop up where after you will insert your email address and your password will be sent to you again. If you are not the signatory on the AEL, however you are the person responsible for managing environmental reporting at your company, you may send an email to NAEIS and request them to assign you as the accounting office at your facility.
If you realise that you have not yet been registered, you can either self-register on NAEIS by following the following link https://saaelip.environment.gov.za/SAAELIP/home/ or you can ask the Authority to register your source (NAEISadmin@environment.gov.za).
If you are a Section 21 Source and a Mine and Quarries Source, you will have to ask the Authority to register both. For instance, if you already have a Section 21 source account, you will have to request the NAEIS Authority to also register your Mine and/or Quarry as a source.