An Environmental Risk Assessment of Filling Stations Using the Principles of Security Management. A Case Study in the Slovak Republic

Abstract

The issue of environmental risk assessment currently deserves great attention. In order to protect the environment, maintain healthy living conditions, and prevent environmental damage, the member states of the European Union have adopted a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage. The directive classifies two types of operators with different liability regimes for environmental damage, namely, the regime with no-fault (strict) liability and liability for fault. With the adoption of the directive, among experts, operators and the general public have posed questions about how to assess the risk of environmental damage. At present, there is still no uniform procedure for assessing environmental risks, which would create a comprehensive methodological framework for assessment for this type of risk. Due to the non-existent risk assessment methodology for operators with strict liability regimes and the lack of a systematic search for risk sources, a risk assessment procedure is proposed that provides guidance in a sequence of several steps on how to implement the obligations arising from the adopted Environmental Liability Directive. The proposed procedure was verified on a specific operator with a strict liability regime. The environmental risk analysis performed through the proposed procedure provided information on possible operational problems and verified its applicability. Last but not least, the use of the proposed procedure makes it possible to identify serious sources of risk and to establish necessary preventive measures to prevent the occurrence of environmental damage.

Developing a Decision Model for Enhancing the Safety of CNG Stations Using Data Mining and Safety Indicators Classification

“…It has much lower pollution than gasoline and diesel and is a substitute for gasoline in dual-fuel vehicles [40]. CNG refueling stations have more complex technical structures than gasoline stations, which are often situated in densely populated urban areas [6,19]. Accordingly, the safety of these stations is of paramount importance due to their abundance and potential hazards, such as the risk of explosions and severe consequences [6,19].…”

“…Over time, the signi cance of CNG has grown progressively compared to gasoline and diesel. Using this clean fuel to reduce air pollutants and limit dependence on oil resources has led to the development of CNG refueling stations in various countries [19,26]. Today, energy production cycles that consume natural gas have gained attention regarding their higher e ciency and lower pollution.…”

Impact Assessment of Petrol Filling Stations on Groundwater Quality in Akure Metropolis, Ondo State

“…[13,15]. Corroded/leaking USTs stands out as a significant source by which groundwater can be polluted [13,16].…”

Usage of sorbents for diminishing the negative impact of substances leaking into the environment in car accidents

“…Index methods unfortunately do not offer a holistic view of the risk. They usually stem from prior analyses of risks and must be supplemented by a subsequent quantitative evaluation of environmental risks (16,17). Many available methods of supporting decisions in the case of uncertainty exist, utilizing data with uncertainty predictions and professional knowledge, which can in any case be used in risk management, especially in sensitive cases.…”