ENVIRONMENT AGENCY MONITORING AND CERTIFICATION SCHEME (MCERTS)

MCERTS is the Environment Agency's monitoring certification scheme. it is designed to improve the quality of emissions monitoring data so ensuring regulatory compliance.

The scheme covers: the certification of instruments; the competency certification of personnel; and the accreditation of laboratories and on-site inspections.

Monitoring to MCERTs standards is commonly required for organisations obligated under the IPPC Directive (2008/1/EC) and Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). Permits issued under the IPPC Directive will dictate whether monitoring is required, and if so, the frequency and type of monitoring and the substances to be detected. It is then best practice to undertake such monitoring using MCERTs certified equipment using MCERTs accredited personnel and laboratories.

MCERTS guidance is available for monitoring emissions to atmosphere and water, and for soil analysis. Guidance varies depending on the substance and type of monitoring and to which media. 

Operator Monitoring Assessment (OMA)

The Environment Agency may undertake an Operator Monitoring Assessment (OMA) audit to establish the quality of a company's monitoring regime. The audit typically entails interviews with relevant site personnel, inspections of monitoring locations and a review of appropriate documentation such as:

• Copies of monitoring procedures;
• Performance and validation data for methods used, for example, limits of detection including surrogate methods such as mass balances;
• Training records;
• Calibration and maintenance procedures and records; and
• equipment instruction manuals.

Applicability

As part of Faricated Examples Ltd's environmental permit, the company have a requirement to report on NOx and CO emissions to air from the process boiler. The company must ensure that monitoring is undertaken to the appropriate MCERTS standard by a suitably qualified contractor.

Related Aspects
Process Boilers