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Air Quality Objectives and Legislation
Local Authorities are placed under a statutory duty by Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 to periodically review and assess air quality within their area. This involves consideration of present and likely future air quality against air quality standards and objectives. Guidelines for the 'Review and Assessment' of local air quality were first published in the 1997 National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS) and associated guidance.
Further reviews of the NAQS were conducted by the Government in 2000 (and more recently in 2007), resulting in a revised Strategy, which set out a revised framework for air quality standards and objectives for seven pollutants. These were published in the form of the Air Quality (England) Regulations (Stationery Office, 2000) and were themselves revised in 2002 (see table below).
| Pollution |
Time Period |
Objective |
To be
achieved by |
| Benzene |
Running annual mean |
16.25 μg/m3 |
2003 |
| Annual mean |
5 μg/m3 |
2010 |
| 1,3 Butadiene |
Running annual mean |
2.25 μg/m3 |
2003 |
| Carbon Monoxide |
Maximum daily running
8 hour mean
|
10 μg/m3 |
2003 |
| Lead |
Annual mean |
0.5 μg/m3 |
2004 |
| Annual mean |
0.25 μg/m3 |
2008 |
| Nitrogen Dioxide |
1 hour mean |
200 μg/m3 not to be exceeded more than 18 times a year |
2005 |
| Annual mean |
40 μg/m3 |
2005 |
| Sulphur Dioxide |
24 hour mean |
125 μg/m3 not to be exceeded more than 3 times a year |
2004 |
| 1 hour mean |
350 μg/m3 not to be exceeded more than 24 times a year |
2004 |
| 15 minute mean |
266 μg/m3 not to be exceeded more than 35 times a year |
2005 |
| Fine Particles (PM10) |
24 hour mean |
50 μg/m3 not to be exceeded more than 35 times a year |
2004 |
| Annual mean |
40 μg/m3 |
2004 |
A three stage review and assessment process is followed to assess local air quality for the pollutants of concern.
Stage 1 Review
This is used to establish the presence of significant existing or anticipated sources of pollutants that could result in air quality targets not being met.
Stage 2 Review
If Stage 1 indicates potential air quality exceedance, a more detailed review and assessment must be carried out, including monitoring and modeling where necessary. Any potential exceedance of air quality targets here should be investigated in the Stage 3 review.
Stage 3 Review
This is a detailed assessment of current and future air quality based on monitoring and modeling. If it is still predicted that air quality targets are to be exceeded, consideration has to be given to declaring an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).
These three stages of air quality Review and Assessment constitute one round in a long-term, ongoing process, and we are now going through the third such round.
Air Quality Management Area (AQMA)
Any part of the local authority’s area where standards are not being met, or are unlikely to be met, should be declared by Order of the Council an "Air Quality Management Area".
Within 12 months of the declaration of an AQMA, the local authority must carry out a Further Assessment of air quality within that area, identifying which standards are not likely to be met and the possible reasons. This is a Stage 4 Review.
In parallel, and within 18 months of declaration of an AQMA, the local authority has to produce an Action Plan detailing the steps it intends to take to improve air quality and the timetable for their implementation. The Plan should be subject to consultation by statutory consultants and the public.
A copy of the draft Plan for Studley that is currently being considered by the Council is available, together with a questionnaire that can be used by anyone who wants to influence the process.
If, after a further review, it can be shown that air quality targets are unlikely to be breached, an AQMA Order can be revoked or, if poor air quality is affecting a wider area, the AQMA can be extended to cover that too.
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