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Question and Answer Tracking Details

3822 - EMISSIONS FROM HEAVY VEHICLES

Hoenig, Ron to the Minister for the Environment, Minister for Heritage, and Assistant Minister for Planning
  1. Does the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) conduct studies on the emission of heavy vehicles, including B-doubles, on public roads that have an impact on air quality?
    1. If so, how does the EPA assess the data in terms of its impact on human health?
    2. Does the data obtained impact upon government policy, in particular, in relation to the movement of heavy vehicles in residential areas?
      1. If so, how?
  2. What laws or regulations are in place to limit the level of emissions produced by heavy vehicles, including B-doubles?
  3. What compliance mechanisms are in place to ensure heavy vehicles follow any laws or regulations that limit the emissions from heavy vehicles?
Answer -

(1) No. However, the EPA estimates emissions from heavy vehicles on NSW roads in the Air Emissions Inventory for the Greater Metropolitan Region in New South Wales.

Government priorities for air quality management and actions to address emission sources including vehicles are informed by the air emissions inventory data, other air quality information, health and economic research, and stakeholder consultation. The air emissions inventory data is available at www.epa.nsw.gov.au⁄air⁄airinventory.htm.

(a) Not applicable.

(b) Policy on the movement of heavy vehicles in residential areas is the responsibility of the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight.

(i) Not applicable.

(2)  Clause 16 of the Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2010 provides an owner of a motor vehicle is guilty of an offence if the vehicle emits excessive air impurities such as visible smoke while being used. Clause 23 of the regulation also provides it is an offence to remove or disconnect anti-pollution devices from a motor vehicle.

(3) The EPA can issue a penalty notice to vehicle owners whose vehicles emit excessive smoke. Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) Enforcement Operations Inspectors are authorised to report smoky vehicles to the EPA.

The EPA partners with RMS in the M5 East- Heavy Vehicle Emission Reduction Program. Under this program RMS officers report heavy vehicles observed emitting excessive smoke in the M5 East tunnel to the EPA, which can result in the EPA issuing penalty notices that carry fines of $2000 against vehicle owners.

There are also mechanisms through which members of the community can submit reports about smoky vehicles to the EPA. This may result in the EPA issuing an advisory letter to a vehicle owner, or a defective vehicle notice where multiple reports are received.

Question asked on 11 August 2016 (session 56-1) and printed in Questions & Answers Paper No. 81
Answer received on 14 September 2016 and printed in Questions & Answers Paper No. 86

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.