An important issue to be kept in mind when planning a construction project is the current level of air pollution in the region. What is the quality of air in the vicinity of the power plant at this time? Can the region in fact tolerate a new power plant? Many people living in the area surrounding the power plant are worried about the air being too heavily polluted. There are, after all, a large number of emission sources in the Rhine-Main region. As well as from industry there is for example road traffic and Frankfurt Airport.

To establish the facts it is necessary for the planned construction of block 6 to undergo a wide-reaching approval process, which will include a close scrutiny and assessment of the impact of the construction project on the very subjects of protection – people, animals and the environment.

An essential element in the approval process is the investigation of environmental impact, which takes a close look at a wide variety of aspects. One of these is to determine the quality of air in the area surrounding the Staudinger power plant. For only when the current situation (initial pollution level) has been accurately defined can it be stated whether the construction project can be implemented without significant impact on the environment.