Steel producer Tata Steel must further reduce the odor nuisance in the IJmond. The area where odor nuisance is allowed is becoming smaller, and the company must meet certain limit values not within ten years, but within five years. That is what the Environmental Service North Sea Canal Area (OD NZKG), that oversees risky companies, decided.
The IJmond includes Velsen and IJmuiden, where Tata factories are located. People living near the steel factories experience a lot of odor nuisance. Most of the reports that come in to the environmental service are also about odor. “The idea is that serious odor nuisance should no longer occur outside Tata’s premises,” said a spokesperson for the service. There is ‘serious odor nuisance’ if at least ten unique complaints are received in one hour and at least one supervisory official also considers the odor to be ‘seriously irritating’.
Tata Steel must also let us know what it will do to comply with this odor decree. “The steel company must indicate how it measures the effects of the measures taken (including the associated term) and calculates the effects on the odor contour,” according to the service. The odor contour is the area within which odor nuisance may occur. If the company does not make sufficient progress, the OD will enforce the NZKG, for example by imposing a penalty.
Tata Steel can still appeal the decisions. The company says it is still studying the decision and says reducing odors in the environment is a “key objective”. “We are doing our utmost to further reduce the impact on the living environment.”
Who is this steel giant and why is Tata Steel often in the news?
–
