The common message is that ESA should present themselves as experts in diffuse fugitive emission reduction and be able to provide real documented examples of fugitive emissions reductions from processes and industrial plants worldwide.
So far, the progress made by this group has been encouraging, despite the setback to the Environmental Goods Act following USA’s withdrawal from the process. FSA are still trying to determine US policy. It is still unclear if the US position will change, and therefore the EGA would appear to be in limbo still.
The progress on the Fugitive Emissions Reduction Document is steady but slow. We now have the commitment of Elastomeric Seals and Expansion Joints to write a section each. There has been plenty of discussion on leak measuring protocols where Europe and USA use two distinctly different routes. As IED includes maximum allowable leakage rates, an agreed method of recording leakage becomes very important.
David Mitchell, Standard and Legislation Director
Read also other parts of the Standards and Legislation report: