United Kingdom Statutory Instruments

"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 km ² for which the Secretary of State considers that the need for ambient air to be assessed or managed is justified;

"alert threshold" has the meaning given by regulation 8(2);

"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 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;

"level" means the concentration of a relevant pollutant in ambient air;

"limit value" has the meaning given in regulation 3(1);

"lower assessment threshold" has the meaning given in regulation 5(5);

"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;

"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;

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

"upper assessment threshold" has the meaning given in regulation 5(5); and

"zone" means a part of the territory of England shown on a map published by the Secretary of State on 19th January 2001, deposited at the offices of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6DE and displayed on the Department's website at http://www.environment.detr.gov.uk.

 -  the date, hour and place of the occurrence and the reasons for the occurrence, where known;

 -  any forecasts of:

      -  changes in concentration (improvement, stabilisation, or deterioration), together with the reasons for those changes,      -  the geographical area concerned,      -  the duration of the occurrence;

 -  the type of population potentially sensitive to the occurrence;

 -  the precautions to be taken by the sensitive population concerned.

 -  the date, hour and place of the occurrence and the reasons for the occurrence, where known;

 -  any forecasts of:

      -  changes in concentration (improvement, stabilisation, or deterioration), together with the reasons for those changes,      -  the geographical area concerned,      -  the duration of the occurrence;

 -  the type of population potentially sensitive to the occurrence;

 -  the precautions to be taken by the sensitive population concerned.

(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)

(a) Protection of human health

Sampling points directed at the protection of human health should be sited:

(i) 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(s);

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

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.

Sampling points should also, where possible, be representative of similar locations not in their immediate vicinity.

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

(b) 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.

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

 -  the flow around the inlet sampling probe should be unrestricted without any obstructions affecting the airflow in the vicinity of the sampler (normally some metres away from buildings, balconies, trees and other obstacles and at least 0.5 m from the nearest building in the case of sampling points representing air quality at the building line);

 -  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. Higher siting may also be appropriate if the station is representative of a large area;

 -  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;

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

 -  location of traffic-orientated samplers;

      -  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,      -  for nitrogen dioxide, inlets should be no more than 5 m from the kerbside,      -  for particulate matter and lead, inlets should be sited so as to be representative of air quality near to the building line.

The following factors may also be taken into account:

 -  interfering sources;

 -  security;

 -  access;

 -  availability of electrical power and telephone communications;

 -  visibility of the site in relation to its surroundings;

 -  safety of public and operators;

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

 -  planning requirements.

(a) Diffuse sources



Population of zone (thousands)	If concentrations exceed the upper assessment threshold	If maximum concentrations are between the upper and lower assessment thresholds	For SO2 and NO2 in agglomerations where maximum concentrations are below the lower assessment thresholds
0 -250	1	1	not applicable
250 -499	2	1	1
500 -749	2	1	1
750 -999	3	1	1
1,000 -1,499	4	2	1
1,500 -1,999	5	2	1
2,000 -2,749	6	3	2
2,750 -3,749	7	3	2
3,750 -4,749	8	4	2
4,750 -5,999	9	4	2
>6,000	10	5	3
	For NO2 and particulate matter: to include at least one urban-background station and one traffic-orientated station

(b) Point sources

For the assessment of pollution in the vicinity of point sources, the number of sampling points for fixed measurement should be calculated taking into account emission densities, the likely distribution patterns of ambient-air pollution and the potential exposure of the population.

 -  a description of assessment activities carried out;

 -  the specific methods used, with references to descriptions of the method;

 -  the sources of data and information;

 -  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(s) or, as may be, limit value(s) plus applicable margin(s) of tolerance and of any area within which concentrations exceed the upper assessment threshold or the lower assessment threshold;

 -  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.

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

 -  region

 -  city (map)

 -  measuring station (map, geographical coordinates).

     2. General information

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

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

 -  useful climatic data

 -  relevant data on topography

 -  sufficient information on the type of targets requiring protection in the zone.

     3. Responsible authorities

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

     4. Nature and assessment of pollution

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

 -  concentrations measured since the beginning of the project

 -  techniques used for the assessment.

     5. Origin of pollution

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

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

 -  information on pollution imported from other regions.

     6. Analysis of the situation

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

 -  details of possible measures for improvement of air quality.

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

 -  local, regional, national, international measures

 -  observed effects of these measures.

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

 -  listing and description of all the measures set out in the project

 -  timetable for implementation

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

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

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

(a) concerning 'local air quality management ' under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 (c. 25);

(b) for control of smoke emissions under the Clean Air Act 1993 (c. 11);

(c) for taking account of air quality issues when making land use planning and transport plans;

(d) for the control of traffic growth and management, under the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997 (c. 54), the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (c. 27) and the Road Traffic Act 1991 (c. 40).

     2. Control of industrial emissions - 

(a) by local authorities by means of ' local air pollution control ' and by the Environment Agency under ' integrated pollution control ' under Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c. 43);

(b) by local authorities and the Environment Agency using their powers under the Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1973).

     3. Control of transport emissions

A series of vehicle emission regulations transposing Council Directives impose limits on vehicle emissions including: S.I. 1992/2137 (covering Directives 91/441/EEC and 91/542/EEC), S.I. 1993/2199 (covering Directive 93/59/EEC); S.I. 1995/2210 (covering Directive 94/12/EC); S.I. 1997/1544 (covering Directive 96/69/EC) and S.I. 2000/3197 (covering Directive 98/69/EC). Environmental standards for fuel were set in 1994 (S.I. 1994/2295) and 1999 (S.I. 1999/3107).

A full account of all the measures through which achievement of limit values will be sought is set out in the ' Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland ' published by the Department of the Environment, Transport & the Regions, Scottish Executive, National Assembly for Wales and Northern Ireland Assembly, January 2000 (Cm. 4548).