Good air quality is a prerequisite for a clean and sustainable harbour area. Consequently, air quality is one of the key points of attention during the development of Maasvlakte 2. The realisation of the new harbour and industrial area should not result in local air quality specifications exceeding the limits set in place. In practice, the legal limits for airborne particulate matter (PM10) and nitrogen oxides (NO2) often form a critical issue. The impact of the Maasvlakte 2 project on local air quality has been made the subject of extensive research. In order to ensure that the correct measures are taken in a timely fashion, this year the Dutch government, the Municipality of Rotterdam and the Port of Rotterdam Authority established the so-called Overeenkomst Lucht (Air Agreement).

What is the actual situation in the region?
At present, at certain locations in the Rijnmond area, air quality does not comply with European standards. The air quality in the harbour area is also an area of concern. Particularly along the network connections with the hinterland, the legal limits for airborne particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide are exceeded at various locations. Incidentally, the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (MNP) expects significant improvements in air quality over the next few years, as a result of various technical innovations and cleaner engine technology.

The impact of Maasvlakte 2 on local air quality 
The impact of the Maasvlakte 2 development on local air quality is relatively minor. The realisation of a new harbour area, however, will naturally lead to increased traffic along the roads and waterways. And this is precisely where there are presently a number of bottlenecks, which is why parties are taking a number of measures to compensate for the additional contribution made by Maasvlakte 2 at locations where air quality standards are not met at present. These measures will satisfy the requirements of the Besluit Luchtkwaliteit 2005 (Air Quality Decree 2005).

Air quality measures in the context of Maasvlakte 2
With respect to air quality, parties prefer source measures to effect measures. The zoning plan includes a number of measures intended to minimise the development’s impact on air quality, such as limitations on the surface area reserved for containers – to a maximum of 720 ha.

Nevertheless, at a number of locations the percentage of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter will increase due to the realisation of Maasvlakte 2. This will be the case along the transport network connecting the area to the hinterland, where the current legal limits are already being exceeded in the period until 2033. This is why various compensatory measures will have to be undertaken by the parties involved in the Maasvlakte 2 development. Plans include the following measures:

Inland shipping:

• Speed limits for inland shipping traffic (20%) on sections of the Oude Maas waterway (Berenplaat – Hoogvliet), the Hartelkanaal waterway (Hoogvliet – Rozenburg) and the Nieuwe Maas waterway (in the vicinity of Haringvliet).
• Reduced emissions by inland shipping traffic. A targeted promotion policy will encourage companies to make the switch to cleaner engine technology. This policy will be intensified in the period after 2010, by placing additional levies on the worst-polluting vessels when they dock at Rotterdam. From 2025 onwards, ‘dirty’ inland vessels will be banned in the entire Rotterdam harbour area. 

Road transport: 

• The introduction of dynamic traffic management on the A15 and A4 highways at sections in the vicinity of Rotterdam, aimed at improving the flow of overland traffic in the region. This measure will decrease pollution.
• If the above measure should prove insufficient, the impact in terms of pollution will be combated with the targeted measure of dust screens along the A15 and A4 highways. 

Overeenkomst Lucht (Air Agreement)
In order to ensure the timely realisation of the appropriate measures, this year the Government, the Municipality of Rotterdam and the Port of Rotterdam Authority will enter into the Overeenkomst Lucht (Air Agreement). This agreement includes various additional measures aimed at reducing air pollution in the area. The notes to the local zoning plan refer to this agreement, which also stipulates measures for monitoring and evaluating developments.

CO2
Nitrogen dioxide (CO2) emissions have also been reviewed in the context of the Maasvlakte 2 development. Results show that the CO2 effects of the project will not exceed legal norms. The Maasvlakte 2 project will comply with the general CO2 policy of the Port Authority with respect to nitrogen dioxide management.