Guiding Principles for Air Quality Assessments

Air quality is a critical factor in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), particularly when projects involve significant emissions. This document outlines guiding principles for conducting air quality impact assessments (AQIAs), ensuring accurate predictions of pollutant dispersion, worst-case impact scenarios, and compliance with regulatory requirements. It provides step-by-step guidance on scoping air quality assessments, identifying emission sources, quantifying pollutants, and applying dispersion modeling techniques. Additionally, it addresses meteorological considerations, baseline air quality evaluations, and strategies for managing data uncertainty to enhance the reliability of assessments. This resource is essential for air quality professionals, EIA practitioners, and regulatory agencies seeking to improve assessment methodologies and ensure comprehensive evaluations of air pollution impacts.