Statutory Instruments of the Scottish Parliament

"agglomeration" means a zone with a population concentration in excess of 250,000 inhabitants, or, where the population concentration is 250,000 inhabitants or less, a population density per km2 for which the Scottish Ministers consider that the need for ambient air to be assessed or managed is justified;

"alert threshold" has the meaning given in regulation 10(2) and (3);

"ambient air" means outdoor air in the troposphere, excluding work places;

"assessment" means any method used to measure, calculate, predict or estimate the level of a relevant pollutant, ozone or ozone precursor substances in the ambient air;

"fixed measurements" means measurements taken at fixed sites either continuously or by random sampling, the number of measurements being sufficiently large to enable the levels observed to be determined;

"information threshold" has the meaning given in regulation 10(3);

"level" means the concentration of a relevant pollutant, ozone or ozone precursor substances in ambient air;

"limit value" has the meaning given in regulation 4(1);

"long-term objective" has the meaning given in regulation 5(2);

"lower assessment threshold" has the meaning given in regulation 7(8);

"margin of tolerance" means the level of the limit value by which this value may be exceeded subject to the conditions laid down in Schedule 1;

"natural events" means volcanic eruptions, seismic activities, geothermal activities, wild-land fires, high-wind events or the atmospheric resuspension or transport of natural particles from dry regions;

"oxides of nitrogen" means the sum of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide added as parts per billion and expressed as nitrogen dioxide in microgrammes per cubic metre;

"ozone precursor substances" means substances which contribute to the formation of ground level ozone, including those listed in Schedule 6;

"PM_2.5" means particulate matter which passes through a size-selective inlet with a 50% efficiency cut-off at 2.5 µm aerodynamic diameter;

"PM₁₀" means particulate matter which passes through a size-selective inlet with a 50% efficiency cut-off at 10 µm aerodynamic diameter;

"public" has the meaning given in regulation 14(15);

"relevant pollutants" means sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter, lead, benzene and carbon MONOXIDE;

"rural background station" shall be interpreted in accordance with Part II of Schedule 4;

"target value" has the meaning given in regulation 5(1);

"transboundary pollution" means ozone concentrations exceeding target values or long term objectives due largely to emissions of ozone precursor substances in other Member States;

"upper assessment threshold" has the meaning given in regulation 7(8);

"volatile organic compounds" or "VOC" means all organic compounds from anthropogenic and biogenic sources, other than methane, that are capable of producing photochemical oxidants by reaction with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight; and

(a) the date, hour and place of the occurrence and the reasons for the occurrence, where known;

(b) any forecasts of-


(i) changes in concentration (improvement, stabilisation, or deterioration), together with the reasons for those changes;

(ii) the geographical area concerned; and

(iii) the duration of the occurrence;



(c) the type of population potentially sensitive to the occurrence; and

(d) the precautions to be taken by the sensitive population concerned.

(a) the date, hour and place of the occurrence and the reasons for the occurrence, where known;

(b) any forecasts of-


(i) changes in concentration (improvement, stabilisation, or deterioration), together with the reasons for those changes;

(ii) the geographical area concerned; and

(iii) the duration of the occurrence;



(c) the type of population potentially sensitive to the occurrence; and

(d) the precautions to be taken by the sensitive population concerned.

(a) the location or area of the exceedance;

(b) the type of threshold exceeded (information threshold or alert threshold);

(c) the time at which the exceedance began and its duration; and

(d) the highest 1-hour and 8-hour mean concentration.

     2. Forecast for the following afternoon, day or days-

(a) the geographical area of expected exceedances of an information threshold or alert threshold;

(b) the expected change in pollution, that is, improvement, stabilisation or deterioration.

     3. Information on the type of population concerned, possible health effects and recommended conduct-

(a) information on population groups at risk;

(b) description of likely symptoms;

(c) recommended precautions to be taken by the population concerned; and

(d) where to find further information.

     4. Information provided under this Schedule shall also include-

(a) information on preventive action to reduce pollution or exposure to it;

(b) an indication of main source sectors; and

(c) recommendations for action to reduce emissions.

(a) all values shall be expressed in µg/m³;

(b) the volume shall be standardised at the following conditions of temperature and pressure: 293K and 101,3kPa;

(c) the time shall be specified in Central European Time;

(d) "AOT40" (expressed in (µg/m³) hours) means the sum of the difference between hourly concentrations greater than 80 (g/m³ (which equals 40 parts per billion) and 80 (g/m³ over a given period using only the 1 hour values measured between 8:00 and 20:00 Central European Time each day;

(e) in order to be valid, the annual data on exceedances used to check compliance with the target values and long-term objectives below must meet the criteria set out in Part II of Schedule 10.

(i) for the target value for the protection of human health, valid data for one year; and

(ii) for the target value for the protection of vegetation, valid data for three years.

(a) SULPHUR DIOXIDE




	Health protection	Ecosystem protection
Upper assessment threshold	60% of 24-hour limit value (75 µg/m3), not to be exceeded more than 3 times in any calendar year	60% of winter limit value (12 µg/m3)
Lower assessment threshold	40% of 24-hour limit value (50 µg/m3), not to be exceeded more than 3 times in any calendar year	40% of winter limit value (8 µg/m3)


(b) NITROGEN DIOXIDE AND OXIDES OF NITROGEN




	Hourly limit value for the protection of human health (NO2)	Annual limit value for the protection of human health (NO2)	Annual limit value for the protection of vegetation (NOx)
Upper assessment value	70% of limit value (140 µg/m3), not to be exceeded more than 18 times in any calendar year	80% of limit value (32 µg/m3)	80% of limit value (24 µg/m3)
Lower assessment value	50% of limit value (100 µg/m3), not to be exceeded more than 18 times in any calendar year	65% of limit value (26 µg/m3)	65% of limit value (19.5 µg/m3)


(c) PARTICULATE MATTER




	24-hour average	Annual average
Upper assessment threshold	60% of limit value (30 µg/m3), not to be exceeded more than seven times in any calendar year	70% of limit value (14 µg/m3)
Lower assessment threshold	40% of limit value (20 µg/m3), not to be exceeded more than seven times in any calendar year	50% of limit value (10 µg/m3)


(d) LEAD




	Annual average
Upper assessment threshold	70% of limit value (0.35 µg/m3)
Lower assessment threshold	50% of limit value (0.25 µg/m3)


(e) BENZENE




	Annual Average
Upper assessment threshold	70% of limit value (3.5 µg/m3)
Lower assessment threshold	40% of limit value (2 µg/m3)


(f) CARBON MONOXIDE




	Eight-hour average
Upper assessment threshold	70% of limit value (7mg/m3)
Lower assessment threshold	50% of limit value (5mg/m3)

(a) to provide data on the areas within zones where the highest concentrations occur to which the population is likely to be directly or indirectly exposed for a period which is significant in relation to the averaging period of the limit value;

(b) to provide data on levels in other areas within the zones which are representative of the exposure of the general population;

(c) sampling points should in general be sited to avoid measuring very small micro-environments in their immediate vicinity. As a guideline, a sampling point should be sited to be representative of air quality in a surrounding area of no less than 200 m2 at traffic-orientated sites and of several square kilometres at urban-background sites;

(d) sampling points should also, where possible, be representative of similar locations not in their immediate vicinity;

(e) account should be taken of the need to locate sampling points on islands, where that is necessary for the protection of human health.

     1.2 Protection of ecosystems and vegetation
Sampling points targeted at the protection of ecosystems or vegetation should be sited more than 20 km from agglomerations or more than 5 km from other built-up areas, industrial installations or motorways. As a guideline, a sampling point should be sited to be representative of air quality in a surrounding area of at least 1000 km2. A sampling point may be sited at a lesser distance or to be representative of air quality in a less extended area, taking account of geographical conditions.

     1.3 Account should be taken of the need to assess air quality on islands.

(a) the flow around the inlet sampling probe should be unrestricted (and, for ozone sampling, free in an arc of at least 270°) without any obstructions affecting the airflow in the vicinity of the sampler (normally some metres away from buildings, balconies, trees and other obstacles by more than twice the height the obstacle protrudes above the sampler and at least 0.5 m from the nearest building in the case of sampling points representing air quality at the building line);

(b) in general, the inlet sampling point should be between 1.5 m (the breathing zone) and 4 m above the ground. Higher positions (up to 8 m) may be necessary in some circumstances and in wooded areas. Higher siting may also be appropriate if the station is representative of a large area;

(c) the inlet probe should not be positioned in the immediate vicinity of sources in order to avoid the direct intake of emissions unmixed with ambient air;

(d) the sampler's exhaust outlet should be positioned so that recirculation of exhaust air to the sampler inlet is avoided;

(e) in relation to the location of traffic-orientated samplers-


(i) for all pollutants, such sampling points should be at least 25 m from the edge of major junctions and at least 4 m from the centre of the nearest traffic lane;

(ii) for nitrogen dioxide and carbon MONOXIDE, inlets should be no more than 5 m from the kerbside;

(iii) for particulate matter, lead and benzene, inlets should be sited so as to be representative of air quality near to the building line;

(iv) for ozone, the inlet probe should be positioned well away from such sources as furnaces and inceration flues and more than 10m from the nearest road, with distance increasing as a function of traffic intensity.

     3.2 The following factors may also be taken into account:-

(a) interfering sources;

(b) security;

(c) access;

(d) availability of electrical power and telephone communications;

(e) visibility of the site in relation to its surroundings;

(f) safety of public and operators;

(g) the desirability of co-locating sampling points for different pollutants;

(h) planning requirements.

(a) a description of assessment activities carried out;

(b) the specific methods used, with references to descriptions of the method;

(c) the sources of data and information;

(d) a description of results, including accuracies and, in particular, the extent of any area or, if relevant, the length of road within the zone over which concentrations exceed limit value or, as may be, the limit values plus applicable margins of tolerance and of any area within which concentrations exceed the upper assessment threshold or the lower assessment threshold;

(e) for limit values the object of which is the protection of human health, the population potentially exposed to concentrations in excess of the limit value.

     2.2 Where possible maps shall be compiled showing concentration distributions within each zone.

(a) a description of the assessment activities carried out;

(b) specific methods used, with references to descriptions of the method;

(c) sources of data and information;

(d) a description of results, including uncertainties and, in particular, the extent of any area within the zone over which concentrations exceed long-term objectives or target values;

(e) for long-term objectives or target values whose object is the protection of human health, the population potentially exposed to concentrations in excess of the threshold.

     4.2 The Scottish Ministers shall ensure that maps are compiled showing concentration distributions within each zone.

(a) region

(b) city (map)

(c) measuring station (map, geographical coordinates).

     1.2 General information

(a) type of zone (city, industrial or rural area)

(b) estimate of the polluted area (km²) and of the population exposed to the pollution

(c) useful climatic data

(d) relevant data on topography

(e) sufficient information on the type of targets requiring protection in the zone.

     1.3 Responsible authorities
Names and addresses of persons responsible for the development and implementation of improvement plans.

     1.4 Nature and assessment of pollution

(a) concentrations observed over previous years (before the implementation of the improvement measures)

(b) concentrations measured since the beginning of the project

(c) techniques used for the assessment.

     1.5 Origin of pollution

(a) list of the main emission sources responsible for pollution (map)

(b) total quantity of emissions from these sources (tonnes/year)

(c) information on pollution imported from other regions.

     1.6 Analysis of the situation

(a) details of those factors responsible for the excess (transport, including cross border transport, formation)

(b) details of possible measures for improvement of air quality.

     1.7 Details of those measures or projects for improvement which existed prior to 21st November 1996

(a) local, regional, national, international measures

(b) observed effects of these measures.

     1.8 Details of those measures or projects adopted with a view to reducing pollution following 21st November 1996

(a) listing and description of all the measures set out in the project

(b) timetable for implementation

(c) estimate of the improvement of air quality planned and of the expected time required to attain these objectives.

     1.9 Details of the measures or projects planned or being researched for the long term.


     1.10 List of the publications, documents, work etc. used to supplement information requested in this Schedule.

(a) for ozone, nitrogen dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and the sums of ozone and nitrogen dioxide (added as parts per billion and expressed in (g/m³ ozone) the maximum, 99.9th, 98th and 50th percentiles and annual average and number of valid data from hourly series; and

(b) the maximum, 98th and 50th percentile and annual average from a series of daily 8 hour ozone maxima.

     1.3 Data submitted in monthly reports are considered provisional and shall be updated where necessary in subsequent submissions.