About EMAQ+

The EMAQ+ Air Quality module provides training and technical guidance for Air Quality Management professionals who have responsibilities, under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 and related regulations, to monitor ambient concentrations of air pollutants, review air quality, assess whether remedial action is required, designate air quality management areas, put in place actions plans, and provide air quality information to the public. The range of materials offered under the Air Quality Module caters for operational level staff that are new to the area and for more experienced officers who wish to update and extend their knowledge of the subject.

The EMAQ+ Air Quality module covers such topics as:

• The fundamentals of air quality review and assessment, the use of dispersion modelling, and updating air quality assessments;
• Good practice for monitoring air pollutants and for data analysis;
• Declaring air quality management areas and action planning;
• Managing the influence of transport on air quality via the planning process;
• Integration of air quality management with climate change policies.

By attending seminars LA professionals can build their confidence in their ability to implement the Air Quality regulations, participate effectively in the planning process, and contribute in local initiatives to combat climate change or mitigate its effects etc. The training, in a formal classroom environment, provides an overview of the legal, scientific, and technical aspects of the management of air quality; provide opportunities to work with expert trainers on realistic practical exercises, ask questions, and network with colleagues undertaking similar work in other local authorities. The EMAQ+ web based technical guidance, based on seminar material, is a readily accessible permanent resource that explains and illustrates the more important aspects of air quality management.

At entry level - the IAQM accredited Essentials of LAQM Course provides a vehicle for personal development and allows a Local Authority to demonstrate how they have invested in strengthening their infrastructure for delivering; certificated individuals and their sponsoring authority are listed on the public pages of the EMAQ website.

Advanced training seminars are geared to more experienced officers who have attended the Essentials of LAQM Course or have an equivalent knowledge and experience.

The EMAQ+ Emission Monitoring module provides training and technical guidance for Local Authority Officers who have regulatory powers and responsibilities under the LA-IPPC and LA-PPC pollution control regimes. The range of materials offered caters for operational level staff that are new to the area and for more experienced officers who wish to update and extend their knowledge of the subject.

At entry level - the IAQM accredited Essentials of PPC Course provides a vehicle for personal development and allows a Local Authority to demonstrate how they have invested in strengthening their infrastructure for developing PPC; certificated individuals and their sponsoring authority are listed on the public pages of the EMAQ website. The Advanced training seminars are geared to staff that are currently involved in pollution control and who have attended the Essentials of PPC Course or have an equivalent knowledge and experience.

By attending seminars LA professionals can build their confidence in their ability to implement the PPC Regulations, assist the planning process, work with plant operators and monitoring consultants etc. The training, in a formal classroom environment, provides an overview of the legal, scientific, and technical aspects of industrial emission regulation; provide opportunities to work with expert trainers on realistic practical exercises, ask questions, and network with colleagues undertaking similar work in other local authorities. The EMAQ+ web based technical guidance, based on seminar material, is a readily accessible permanent resource that explains and illustrates the more important aspects of industrial pollution regulation.

The EMAQ+ Essentials of Noise (EON) module provides training and technical guidance for the understanding, evaluation, assessment, and regulation of noise. It is specifically tailored to Local Authority professionals who have responsibilities, under Environmental Protection Act for the investigation of statutory nuisance, and other related legislation such as Town & Country Planning, Licensing etc. to investigate, review and enforce (where necessary) for the adverse impacts of environmental noise.

The range of materials offered under EON provides operational level staff that are new to the area of noise regulation sufficient information to understand the basic requirements and build their knowledge rapidly to ensure that the proper skills are understood. The course also provides more experienced officers with additional material for those who wish to update and extend their knowledge of the subject.

The module aims to provide candidates with:

• An understanding of the basic acoustic principles
• An understanding of the regulatory regimes for licensing, planning and statutory nuisance and how they relate to noise;
• An appreciation of the issues of noise dose, and response for environmental noise
• A basic knowledge of the use of noise models and modelling software within the framework of standards and legislation for noise
• An appreciation of the role of measurement data and modelled data within the framework of standards and legislation for noise.
• An understanding of reports and reporting of noise to meet compliance objectives
• An ability to review and comment upon the findings of noise reports with a view to providing statutory responses

After successfully completing the course, candidates should be able to:

• Perform basic noise calculations involving noise indices appropriate for consideration of environmental and occupational noise
• Evaluate reports on measurements or modelling of noise and noise from a variety of case studies, according to the requirements of the relevant British Standards or guidance documents;
• Present an appropriate critique of reports ensuring that the data is placed in context ensuring best practice, non-conformance and assessment of outcomes are verified.
• Highlight aspects of uncertainty in reports identifying how this may affect the regulatory outcomes.
• Comment competently on compliance for reports submitted for the various regulatory frameworks

By attending seminars LA professionals can build their confidence in their ability to implement the noise aspects of the various regulatory regimes, participate effectively in the planning process, and contribute significantly to the Licensing and Permitting processes. The training, in a formal classroom environment, provides an overview of the legal, scientific, and technical aspects of the management of environmental noise; provide opportunities to work with expert trainers on realistic practical exercises, ask questions, and network with colleagues undertaking similar work in other local authorities. The EMAQ+ web based technical guidance, based on seminar material, is a readily accessible permanent resource that explains and illustrates the more important aspects of noise management.
At entry level – Essentials of Noise Course provides a vehicle for personal development and allows a Local Authority to demonstrate how they have invested in strengthening their infrastructure for delivering; certificated individuals and their sponsoring authority are listed on the public pages of the EMAQ website.

Advanced training seminars are geared to more experienced officers who have attended the Essentials of Noise Course or have an equivalent knowledge and experience.

The EMAQ+ Contaminated Land module provides training and technical guidance for Contaminated Land professionals who have responsibilities under Part IIA and/or planning regulations and whose duties include the evaluation of land contamination data. The EMAQ+ material is of most relevance to operational level staff that are new to the area but it is also has value as a refresher for other more experienced officers.

It covers such topics as:

• The Model Procedures for Management of Land Contamination;
• Detailed site characterisation and risk assessment;
• The environmental characteristics and contaminant properties that determine the potential for contaminant mobility and degradation in the soil/fill media;
• Assessing land quality reports, including desk study, site investigation, remediation proposals or verification reports submitted through the planning process.

EMAQ+ seminars are designed for those local authorities officers who, as part of their continuing professional development, feel that they would benefit from in-depth training in scientific, risk-based, good practice for managing contaminated land responsibilities. By attending seminars, professionals build confidence in their ability to implement Part IIA regulations, assist the planning process, work with developers and consultants etc. The training, in a formal classroom environment, provides an overview of the legal, scientific, and technical aspects of the management of contaminated land; provide opportunities to work with expert trainers on realistic practical exercises, ask questions, and network with colleagues undertaking similar work in other local authorities. The EMAQ+ web based technical guidance, based on seminar material, is a readily accessible permanent resource that explains and illustrates the more important aspects of contaminated land management.