Advising the Spanish cement industry on operating in environmentally responsible ways.
The Situation
Spain had seen a new law introduced for the reparation of environmental damage. The Law 26/2007 establishes environmental responsibility for operators resulting from their activities by means of different methods, such as financial guarantees for environmental responsibility.
Approach
Advisian prepared an Environmental Risk Assessment Guidance Report (MIRAT) for the activities developed by companies belonging to the Spanish Cement Producers Association (OFICEMEN).
The MIRAT was developed according to Law 26/2007 of the 23rd of October related to environmental responsibility, which established a new regime for the reparation of environmental damage. Law 26/2007 establishes environmental responsibility for operators resulting from their activities by means of different methods, such as financial guarantees for environmental responsibility.
The methodology outlined by Royal Decree 2090/2008 of the 22nd of December was followed to determine the amount of the financial guarantee based on a quantitative environmental risk assessment of each activity and each risk calculated using the MIRAT. This tool compiles the characteristics of each type of activity and installation by considering all of the accident scenarios that are relevant to the receptors and by allowing for the determination of accidents and their probabilities of occurrence for different sectors.
Results
The document now constitutes a guide to be used by operators when conducting a quantitative environmental risk assessment focused on their particular installation. The user selects initiating events and applicable accident scenarios, which are predefined, and establishes the probability of occurrence and the consequences according to predefined protocols or models. The results are the calculated risk of the installation, including the consequences assessed as the economic cost of environmental damage reparation, and an assessment of the necessary environmental financial guarantee value.
To orient operators in the implementation of the MIRAT, a practical case was developed for hypothetical facilities to include all of the processes described in the MIRAT.
In addition, a multi-site software tool (ARACEA) based on the MIRAT was developed to help operators easily and systematically perform the assessment of their plants. The software tool also allowed users to manage their risks.
Finally, assessments were performed and financial guarantees were calculated for four pilot plants using the tool.
These types of environmental risk assessment tools are highly valuable resources that allow companies to recognise and manage risks in their facilities with the aim of protecting the receiving environment and the company’s reputation.
