V. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

[ V-A | V-B | V-C | V-D | V-E | V-F | V-G | V-H | V-I | V-J ]

F. Technology indexes and standards

[ F-1 | F-2 | F-3 | F-4 | F-5]

2. Environmental quality standards applied in Shenyang

Table 11. Environmental monitoring indexes

Environment	Monitoring index
Atmosphere	Eight indexes: SO2, NOX, TSP, dustfall, Pb, B(a)P, sulfation rate and precipitation
Surface water	Twenty-three indexs: hardness, pH, SS, DO, COD, BOD, NH3?, N, NO?3-N, NO?2-N, oil, volatile phenolphthalein, CN?, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Cd, total Cr, Cr6+, Hg, specific conductivity, hexachlorobenzene and permanganate values
Biology	Four indexes: total number of bacteria, coliform groups, algae and hydrophtye
Physical pollution	Four indexes: noise, vibration, radioactivity (? and ?) and electromagnetic radiation
Point source	Eighteen indexes: pH, SS, COD, oil, volatile phenolphthalein, CN?, nitrophenol, S, As, Hg, total Cr, Cr6+, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and aniline

Based on environmental and pollution elements, State environmental quality standards are divided into the environmental quality standards and pollution control standards for the atmosphere, water quality, soil, noise, radioactivity etc. Different target values are set according to different levels, areas and stages. National Environmental Quality Standards are the targets of national environmental protection policies and are suitable for the whole country.

The National Environmental Quality Standards also include some special standards established by the central government, such as certain specifications on the Sanitation Standards of Living Drinking Water, Sanitation Standard for Industry Enterprise Design, Water Quality Standards for Fisheries and Water Quality Standards for Agricultural Irrigation.

The common environmental quality standards include surface water, the atmosphere, sea water, water quality in fisheries areas and agricultural irrigation water supplies.

1. Environmental Quality Standard of Surface Water (GB3838-88)

The standards for surface water were established to implement the Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China and the Law on Prevention and Control of Water Pollution in the People's Republic of China, in order to control water pollution and protect water resources. The standards are used for all surface water area which have usable functions, such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs, within the territory of China.

The standards are divided into five groups according to purpose of use and the aims of protection:.

• Category I: mainly suitable for water sources and State nature reserves;
• Category II: mainly suitable for first class protection areas of drinking water sources for concentrated areas of habitat and fisheries areas;
• Category III: mainly suitable for second class protection areas of concentrated drinking water sources and first class protection fisheries and swimming areas;
• Category IV: mainly suitable for the common industrial water sources and areas used for recreation where water does not directly touch human bodies;
• Category V: mainly suitable for agricultural use and water areas in common landscape areas.
If a particular water area serves different functions, the highest applicable category is followed. If the water area function has seasonal variations, category application is made in accordance with such season variations.

The standards stipulate that different values must be applied in a water area with different functions. The environmental protection departments and water resource protection departments are both in charge of supervising the application of the standards. The environmental protection departments cooperate with related departments, such as those responsible for city construction, water conservancy, health, agriculture etc., in dividing the water areas under its jurisdiction into different categories according to the overall planing of river basins and river systems as well as the requirements of usage. The governments of provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities have to be notified of the standards for ratification. Usually the function of a water area is not permitted to be placed in a lower category than the one which covers its current function. If it is necessary to lower the category, the need must be justified technologically and economically to a higher level department for approval.

2. Environmental Quality Standards for the Atmosphere (GB3095-82)

The Environmental Quality Standards for the Atmosphere are divided into three classes:

• First class standard. The first class standard for atmospheric quality protects the natural environment and human health and ensures that there are no long-term harmful effects;
• Second class standard. The second class standard for atmospheric quality protects human health and ensures that people, animals or plants in the city or country are unharmed during the short and long term;
• Third class standard. The third class standard of atmospheric quality protects humans from acute and chronic toxic poisoning and ensures that animals and plants (except for sensitive species) continue to exist normally.
The limiting values of the three classes of standards are established according to concentrations of various air pollutants. Under the standards, suspended particles refer to those particles with a radius less than 100 um. Floating dust refers to particles with a radius smaller than 10 um. Photochemical oxidant refers to matter for which the one-hour average value does not exceed the maximum limiting value more than once per month.

Atmospheric environmental quality zones are divided into three categories on the basis of geography, climate, ecology, politics, economics and atmospheric pollution levels. The three categories are:

• First category zone. This zone covers nature conservation areas established by State, scenic areas and historic sites, convalescent areas;
• Second category zone. This zone covers residential areas set up by city planning, areas comprising a mix of businesses, residential and communication centres, cultural centres, scenic spots and historic sites, and wide areas of countryside.
• Third category zone. This zone covers urban and industrial areas and the main lines and hubs of urban communication where atmospheric pollution is serious.
The first class standards are usually applied in the first category zone, the second class standards are usually applied in the second category zone and the third class standard are usually applied in the third category zone. Other environmental quality standards include chemical standards that stipulate a permissible level of chemical pollutants in the environment. Physical and biological environmental quality standards provide a permissible level of physical and biological pollution (water bodies, soil and food etc.) in the environment. In the case of biological pollution further studies are required. A similar requirement exists for human social environmental quality, for which there are no concrete and united standards. Pollutant discharge standards and pollutant discharge indexes of products and crafts need to be formulated in order to guarantee the implementation of environmental quality standards.


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