The phrase "approach the scale of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that is nearing or coming close to a certain level or magnitude.
Example: "The new technology is expected to approach the scale of previous innovations in the industry."
Alternatives: "come close to the level of" or "nearly reach the magnitude of".
Gallatin's coal ash problems do not approach the scale of earlier disasters, but people and communities are still affected.
While none of AQAP's efforts approach the scale of 9/11 they have continued to plot acts of terror, like the attempt to blow up an airplane on Christmas Day in 2009.
The few small museums in places like Louisiana and Maryland that tell parts of the story of slavery do not approach the scale of what is planned for Charleston.
The WikiLeaks' unauthorised disclosures of the last year are the first in 40 years to approach the scale of the Pentagon Papers (and even surpass them in quantity and timeliness).
Until someone can produce proof of words and actions on the part of Sotomayor that even approach the scale of Rehnquist's and Roberts's, all I see is men throwing skeleton bones from class closets.
The industry is starting to approach the scale of the wind industry, which saw over 5,000 megawatts of capacity installed last year (down from over 10,000 the year before).
Animals have been picking up the food scraps forever, but nothing in history approaches the scale of modern food waste.
The devastation approached the scale of a 1998 calamity in which 16 percent of the world's reefs died.
Web revenue is small now, but if it ever approaches the scale of some series on DVD, the prize could be substantial.
So far, however, it has not nearly approached the scale of an earlier White House scandal, Iran-contra, and its 11 convictions.
Italian restorers have reclaimed other frescoes from rubble, but Dr. Basile said none has approached the scale of the Assisi project.
