Commission Implementing Decision of 26 March 2013 establishing the best available techniques (BAT) conclusions under Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on industrial emissions for the production of cement, lime and magnesium oxide (notified under document C(2013) 1728) (Text with EEA relevance) (2013/163/EU)

1.1 General BAT conclusions

The BAT mentioned in this section apply to all installations covered by these BAT conclusions (cement, lime and magnesium oxide industry).

The process-specific BAT included in Sections 1.2 - 1.4 apply in addition to the general BAT mentioned in this section.

1.1.1 Environmental management systems (EMS)

1. In order to improve the overall environmental performance of the plants/installations producing cement, lime and magnesium oxide, production BAT is to implement and adhere to an environmental management system (EMS) that incorporates all of the following features:

i.

commitment of the management, including senior management;

ii.

definition of an environmental policy that includes the continuous improvement of the installation by the management;

iii.

planning and establishing the necessary procedures, objectives and targets, in conjunction with financial planning and investment;

iv.

implementation of procedures paying particular attention to:

(a)

structure and responsibility

(b)

training, awareness and competence

(c)

communication

(d)

employee involvement

(e)

documentation

(f)

efficient process control

(g)

maintenance programmes

(h)

emergency preparedness and response

(i)

safeguarding compliance with environmental legislation;

v.

checking performance and taking corrective action, paying particular attention to:

(a)

monitoring and measurement (see also the Reference Document on the General Principles of Monitoring)

(b)

corrective and preventive action

(c)

maintenance of records

(d)

independent (where practicable) internal and external auditing in order to determine whether or not the EMS conforms to planned arrangements and has been properly implemented and maintained;

vi.

review of the EMS and its continuing suitability, adequacy and effectiveness by senior management;

vii.

following the development of cleaner technologies;

viii.

consideration for the environmental impacts from the eventual decommissioning of the installation at the stage of designing a new plant, and throughout its operating life;

ix.

application of sectoral benchmarking on a regular basis.

Applicability

The scope (e.g. level of details) and nature of the EMS (e.g. standardised or non-standardised) will generally be related to the nature, scale and complexity of the installation, and the range of environmental impacts it may have.

1.1.2 Noise

2. In order to reduce/minimise noise emissions during the manufacturing processes for cement, lime and magnesium oxide, BAT is to use a combination of the following techniques:

	Technique
a	Select an appropriate location for noisy operations
b	Enclose noisy operations/units
c	Use vibration insulation of operations/units
d	Use internal and external lining made of impact-absorbent material
e	Use soundproofed buildings to shelter any noisy operations involving material transformation equipment
f	Use noise protection walls and/or natural noise barriers
g	Use outlet silencers to exhaust stacks
h	Lag ducts and final blowers which are situated in soundproofed buildings
i	Close doors and windows of covered areas
j	Use sound insulation of machine buildings
k	Use sound insulation of wall breaks, e.g. by installation of a sluice at the entrance point of a belt conveyor
l	Install sound absorbers at air outlets, e.g. the clean gas outlet of dedusting units
m	Reduce flow rates in ducts
n	Use sound insulation of ducts
o	Apply the decoupled arrangement of noise sources and potentially resonant components, e.g. of compressors and ducts
p	Use silencers for filter fans
q	Use soundproofed modules for technical devices (e.g. compressors)
r	Use rubber shields for mills (avoiding the contact of metal against metal)
s	Construct buildings or growing trees and bushes between the protected area and the noisy activity