CHAPTER V

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

This chapter represents the Environmental Impact Assessment which deals

with social-economic benefits of each design option. Health and safety

requirements shall be elaborated, and mitigation measures during the construction

and operational phase of the proposed combined cycle gas turbine power plant.

Considering the ASTM International-Environmental Standards or DENR standards

which focuses on atmospheric analysis standards, environmental assessment and

risk assessment standards, toxicology standards, waste management standards

and water testing standards.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment is the process of predicting and

evaluating the positive and negative consequences of the proposed action on the

actual project. This assessment provides sufficient information to decide whether

the preparation is necessary to minimized the cost and time that can be wasted

during design project implementation.

Socio-Economic Benefits

Socio economic assessment is the comprehensive accounting of impacts

and effects of the proposed development on the lives and circumstances of people

and to the communities affected. During the construction phase, the plant will

provide direct employment for many skilled, semi-skilled and other workers. The
construction of the power plant provides direct benefits refer to more investor or

investment, employment, and lower electricity prices.

Health and Safety Requirements

The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Administrative

Order 2003-30 further states that natural gas-fired thermal power plant projects

with a total production capacity of more than 50 MW is categorized as critical

project in an environmentally critical area based on Presidential Proclamation

No.2146. Along with this, environmental impacts must be considered.

Natural gas is used as the main fuel for gas turbine, which is more potent

greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide due to greater global-warming potential of

methane. But because when it is burned, it produces more water than carbon

dioxide by mole, in contrast to coal which produces mainly carbon dioxide, it

produces only about half the carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour that coal does.

Current estimates by the EPA place global emissions of methane at 85 billion cubic

meters (3.0 x 1012 cu ft) annually. Direct emissions of methane represented 14.3%

by volume of all global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in 2004.

Waste generated and mitigation measures

Pursuant to Presidential Decree (PD) 1586 (1978) of the Philippine

Environmental Impact Statement System, projects declared as environmentally

critical areas (ECA) presumed to have significant impacts on the quality of the

environment are covered by the EIA process and are thus, required to secure an

Environmental Compliance Certificate prior to commencement of construction. It

shall consider the impacts on environment measured through solid waste,

hazardous waste, waste water, emission, noise, traffic, wildlife.

Wastes resulting from the excavation and construction activities shall be

segregated and sorted by type using standard garbage containers. Collection must

be done separately in order to control the solid waste disposal process properly.

Wastes from power plants include sludge, ash and office wastes. Waste disposal

must also follow a standard protocol in order to avoid contamination

The water to be used will be provided by the Cavite water District. Waste

water from the construction and operation will be minimal as environmental

standards will be considered in the water treatment in the plant. Power plants that

use water to create steam or for cooling must often filter and purify the water before

discharging to surface waters. The filtered solids are a by-product that must be

disposed appropriately.

Noise from construction will be produced by the heavy equipment and

machineries to be used. Contributing to the noise pollution is the noise produced

by the gas turbine and the steam turbine. Natural gas-fired combined cycle plants

generate noise from the turbines, the air intakes, and the cooling towers.

Combustion turbine plants generate noise from turbine operation and air handling

facilities. During construction of the plant, there would be noise from construction

equipment. And during the operation phase, since the plant is located far away

from residential areas, any noise pollution is not expected. In case of need for

mitigation, noise prevention precautions will be taken.

Road traffic associated with plant operations will consist of the movement of a

relatively small number of station personnel to and from the site together with

maintenance and servicing activities. Routine delivery of consumables and other

equipment will not lead to significant additional traffic. After the plant is constructed

and operating, traffic burdens would likely be lessened.

Construction of a new power plant could displace certain species of wildlife

and attract other species. Complete loss of vegetation cover or break up vegetation

cover due to other small buildings and roads are expected during construction

phase. During construction, the possible effects on wildlife are habitat loss and

break up the habitats. Species that relied specifically on the original natural habitat

might not survive or might need to leave the area.