Ministerial Order preventing Activities that Pollute the Atmosphere

Citation
Ministerial Order 3-MO16 of 2010
Date
30 August 2010
Language
English
Type
Legislation
Rwanda

Ministerial Order preventing Activities that Pollute the Atmosphere

Ministerial Order 3-MO16 of 2010

The Minister of Environment and Lands;Pursuant to the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 04 June 2003 as amended to date, especially in Articles 49, 120, 121 and 201;Pursuant to Organic Law n° 04/2005 of 8/4/2005 determining the modalities of protection, conservation and promotion of environment in Rwanda, especially in Articles 3 and 26;After consideration and approval by the Cabinet, in its session of 01/04/2010;HEREBY ORDERS:

Chapter One
General provisions

Article One – Purpose of this Order

This Order prevents activities that can pollute the atmosphere.

Article 2 – Activities that pollute the atmosphere

All activities that give rise to chemical pollutants listed in the annex to this Order shall be controlled in such a way that the pollutants do not exceed the prescribed quantity limits.The list of these pollutants can be updated on the basis of research advancement or whenever it is deemed necessary.

Chapter II
Modalities of preventing air pollution

Article 3 – Open burning of substances

Open burning of any substance is prohibited, except as provided below:1°campfires and other fires used solely for recreational purposes and ceremonial occasions. The wood used shall be clean and not coated by any coating material such as paint or glue;2°fires purposely set for agricultural control of disease and pests;3°open air, kitchen fires for cooking meals.

Article 4 – Exhaust fumes Emissions

Exhaust fumes of vehicles shall be included in the annual road worthiness test for vehicles.The traffic police shall carry out road worthiness tests on vehicles and if need be ban further use of a smoking vehicle until it has been properly repaired.

Article 5 – Dark smoke from factories and industries

It is prohibited for industries to emit dark smoke from their chimneys into the air.

Article 6 – Suspension and closure of polluting activities

In case of non compliance of industries with the air pollution standard regulations, the Rwanda Environment Management Authority shall suspend their activities for thirty (30) days. Failure to comply with the air pollution standards within 30 days, that institution shall definitely close down the said activities.

Article 7 – Transitional period

Owners of industries and vehicles shall comply with this Order within three months (3) period from the date of publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda of this Order.

Article 8 – Repealing provision

All prior provisions contrary to this Order are hereby repealed.

Article 9 – Commencement

This Order shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda.

Annex

Ambient air quality tolerance limits

 PollutantTime weighted AverageIndustrial areaResidential, rural & other areaControlled areas
1.Sulphur oxides (SOX);Annual Average*80 g/m360 g/m315 g/m3
24 hours**125 g/m380 g/m330 g/m3
Annual Average 0.019 ppm/50g/m3 
Month Average
24 Hours 0.048ppm/125g/m3 
One Hour
Instant Peak 500 g/m3 
Instant peak (10 min) 0.191 ppm 
2.Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX);Annual Average*80 g/m360 g/m315 g/m3
24 hours**150 g/m380 g/m330 g/m3
8 hours   
    
Annual Average 0.2 ppm 
Month Average 0.3 ppm 
24 Hours 0.4 ppm 
One Hour 0.8 ppm 
Instant Peak 1.4 ppm 
3.Nitrogen DioxideAnnual Average150 g/m30.05 ppm 
Month Average 0.08 ppm 
24 Hours100 g/m30.1 ppm 
One Hour 0.2 ppm 
Instant Peak 0.5 ppm 
4.Suspended particulate matter (SPM)Annual Average*360 g/m3140 g/m370 g/m3
24 hours**500 g/m3200 g/m3100 g/m3
mg/Kg   
Annual Average**** 100 g/m3 
24 hours*** 180 g/m3 
5.Respirable particulate matter (<10m)Annual Average*70 g/m350 g/m350 g/m3
 (RPM)    
24 hours**150g/Nm3100 g/Nm375 g/Nm3
6.PM2.5Annual Average35 g/m3  
24 hours75 g/m3  
7.Lead (Pb)Annual Average*1.0g/Nm30.75 g/Nm30.50 g/m3
24 hours**1.5 g/m31.00 g/m30.75 g/m3
Month Average 2.5 
8.Carbon monoxide (CO)/ carbon dioxide (CO2)8 hours**5.0 mg/m32.0 mg/m31.0 mg/m3
1 hour10.0 mg/m34.0 mg/m32.0 mg/m3
mg/Kg   
24 hours**   
9.Non-methane hydrocarbons    
instant Peak700ppb  
10.Total VOC6 mg/m3   
11.Ozone1-Hour200 g/m30.12 ppm 
8 hour (instant Peak)120 g/m31.25 ppm 
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History of this document

30 August 2010 this version
Commenced
15 July 2010
Assented to