Office of Public Sector Information
17.—(1) The Secretary of State shall install and operate measuring stations to supply representative data on concentrations of PM2.5.
(2) The Secretary of State shall—
(a) determine the number of measuring stations he considers necessary;
(b) locate each measuring station—
(i) together with a sampling point for PM10, where this is possible; or
(ii) in any other case, in accordance with the principles set out in Parts 1, 4 and 5 of Schedule 6 which are relevant to PM10;
(c) use reference methods for sampling and measurement that he considers suitable; and
(d) have regard to the data quality objectives set out in Part 1 of Schedule 8.
18.—(1) The Secretary of State shall install and operate one or, if he considers it necessary, more measuring stations, to supply data on concentrations of the ozone precursor substances set out in Schedule 10.
(2) When complying with paragraph (1), the Secretary of State shall have regard—
(a) generally, to Annex III of the Decision referred to in regulation 11(6); and
(b) in choosing the number and sites of the measuring stations and in their operation, to Schedule 10.
19.—(1) The Secretary of State shall monitor concentrations of—
(a) basic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; and
(b) any additional polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which he decides should be monitored,
at monitoring sites designated by him for this purpose.
(2) The Secretary of State shall locate each monitoring site—
(a) together with a sampling point for benzo(a)pyrene, where this is possible; or
(b) in any other case, in accordance with those Parts of Schedule 6 relevant to Group B pollutants.
(3) The total number of monitoring sites and their overall selection shall be such as the Secretary of State considers necessary to ensure that the monitoring provides sufficient information to identify long-term trends and geographical variation in the concentration of each polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon.
(4) Regulation 16(2) and (3) shall apply to the monitoring required by this regulation as if such monitoring were an assessment under Chapter 4 of Part 2.
20.—(1) The Secretary of State shall install and operate background sampling points to provide the measurements referred to in paragraph (2).
(2) The measurements are indicative measurements of—
(a) concentrations of—
(i) Group B pollutants;
(ii) basic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; and
(iii) total gaseous mercury;
and
(b) total deposition of—
(i) Group B pollutants, within the PM10 fraction;
(ii) basic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; and
(iii) mercury.
(3) For the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2), the Secretary of State shall ensure that—
(a) at least one sampling point is installed for every 100,000 km²; and
(b) each sampling point is located in accordance with those Parts of Schedule 6 relevant to Group B pollutants.
(4) Regulation 16(2) and (3) shall apply to the taking of the measurements referred to in paragraph (2) as if the taking of these measurements were an assessment under Chapter 4 of Part 2.
(5) The Secretary of State may—
(a) in addition to the indicative measurements referred to in paragraph (2), take further indicative measurements relating specifically to particulate and gaseous divalent mercury from the sampling points installed under paragraph (1); and
(b) coordinate any measurements taken under this regulation with the European Monitoring and Evaluation of Pollutants monitoring strategy and measurement programme.
(6) For the purpose of paragraph (2)(a)(iii), “total gaseous mercury” means—
(i) elemental mercury vapour (Hg0); and
(ii) reactive gaseous mercury.
21.—(1) The Secretary of State shall—
(a) ensure that up-to-date information is made available to the public in accordance with this Part; and
(b) consult the public in accordance with regulation 28.
(2) The Secretary of State shall ensure that the information to which this Part relates is—
(a) made available in a form that is clear, comprehensible and accessible;
(b) disseminated or published by the most appropriate means, as he may determine, including (but not necessarily limited to) broadcast media, press, publications, information screens, the internet or other computer network sources; and
(c) up-dated—
(i) in accordance with a minimum frequency specified in this Part; or
(ii) in other cases, as soon as practicable.
(3) For the purposes of this Part, “the public” includes health-care bodies and other organisations having an interest in ambient air quality or representing the interests of sensitive people or the environment.
22. The Secretary of State shall make available—
(a) information identifying each zone and specifying which zones have been classified as agglomerations;
(b) lists of—
(i) zones which have attained all air quality standards; and
(ii) zones which have not attained one or more of the air quality standards, in which case the list shall specify the pollutants and air quality standards concerned;
(c) until 31st December 2009, a list of zones in which concentrations of benzene or nitrogen dioxide either—
(i) exceed a limit value plus the relevant margin of tolerance; or
(ii) are between a limit value and the relevant margin of tolerance,
specifying, in both cases, the pollutant and limit values for which this is the case; and
(d) a list classifying each zone in relation to the method by which the Secretary of State assesses concentrations of each Group A and Group B pollutant within that zone in accordance with regulation 13.
23.—(1) The Secretary of State shall make available information in respect of—
(a) concentrations of Group A pollutants;
(b) concentrations of Group B pollutants;
(c) concentrations of ozone; and
(d) in so far as measured or monitored under Part 3 of these Regulations—
(i) concentrations of mercury, PM2.5 and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; and
(ii) deposition rates of Group B pollutants, mercury and basic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
(2) The information referred to in paragraph (1)(a) shall be updated in the cases of—
(a) benzene, as an average value over the preceding 12 months—
(i) at least on a three-monthly basis; and
(ii) where practicable, on a monthly basis;
(b) carbon monoxide, as a maximum running average over eight hours—
(i) at least on a daily basis; and
(ii) where practicable, on an hourly basis;
(c) lead, on a three monthly basis; and
(d) nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and PM10—
(i) at least on a daily basis; and
(ii) in the case of hourly values for nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide, where practicable, on an hourly basis.
(3) The information required to be made available by paragraph (1)(c) shall be updated—
(a) at least on a daily basis; and
(b) where appropriate and practicable, on an hourly basis.
(4) The information required to be made available by paragraph (1)(d)(i) in respect of PM2.5 shall be updated at least on a daily basis.
24.—(1) The Secretary of State shall, as soon as possible in each case, make available—
(a) the information set out in Part 1 of Schedule 11, when the alert threshold for nitrogen dioxide or sulphur dioxide is exceeded; and
(b) the information set out in Part 2 of Schedule 11—
(i) when the alert threshold or information threshold for ozone is exceeded; and
(ii) in so far as practicable, when either threshold is predicted to be exceeded.
(2) In cases where the Secretary of State makes information available under both sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph (1), he shall combine the information in a comprehensive format.
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of the obligation imposed by this regulation, in cases where the alert threshold for ozone is exceeded or is predicted to be exceeded, the Secretary of State shall ensure that timely information is provided to health-care bodies.
25.—(1) The Secretary of State shall provide the information required by paragraphs (2) to (5) in respect of each of the pollutants to which those paragraphs relate.
(2) For Group A pollutants, the Secretary of State shall indicate the extent to which the following have been exceeded—
(a) any limit value, over the relevant averaging period set out in Part 1 of Schedule 1; or
(b) the alert thresholds for nitrogen dioxide or sulphur dioxide,
and provide a short assessment of these occurrences and their effects on health.
(3) For Group B pollutants, the Secretary of State shall—
(a) indicate any occasion during which any target value has been exceeded; and
(b) in relation to each occurrence, provide at least the following information—
(i) the areas within each zone in which the target value was exceeded;
(ii) the reasons for the occurrence and the predominant sources of emissions identified in accordance with regulation 9(2)(a);
(iii) a short assessment of the effect of the occurrence on overall compliance with the target value in the zone concerned;
(iv) details of the measures being directed at any identified sources of emissions in accordance with regulation 9(2)(b); and
(v) the prospects for attainment of the target value in the zone affected.
(4) For ozone, the Secretary of State shall—
(a) indicate any occasion during which concentrations have exceeded—
(i) the long-term objectives for the protection of human health;
(ii) the information threshold; or
(iii) the alert threshold;
and
(b) provide a short assessment of each occurrence, including its extent and its effects on health.
(5) The Secretary of State shall update the information referred to in paragraphs (2) and (4) in accordance with the timescales specified for the pollutants in question by regulation 23(2) and (3).
26.—(1) The Secretary of State shall produce an annual report in relation to ozone containing the following information—
(a) for human health, an indication of all occasions during which—
(i) the target value;
(ii) long-term objective; or
(iii) alert threshold,
has been exceeded;
(b) for vegetation, an indication of all occasions during which—
(i) the target value; or
(ii) long-term objective,
has been exceeded; and
(c) in relation to both sub-paragraphs (a) and (b), a short assessment of the effects of each such occurrence.
(2) The information referred to in paragraph (1)(b) may include, where appropriate—
(a) further information and assessments on forest protection, obtained and collated in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 12; and
(b) information on ozone precursor substances.
27.—(1) The Secretary of State shall—
(a) make available; and
(b) provide information on the implementation of,
each action plan and improvement plan.
(2) Where regulation 11(4) applies, the Secretary of State shall make available the results of the investigations undertaken in the context of his considerations under that regulation, irrespective of whether he has prepared an action plan under regulation 11(1)(a).
28.—(1) The Secretary of State shall consult the public where he proposes to prepare, modify or review an improvement plan.
(2) Where paragraph (1) applies, the Secretary of State shall—
(a) inform the public as to his proposal, any relevant background information and the right of the public to participate in the relevant decision making process;
(b) specify the means by which the public can participate in the consultation, including an address for responses, and a reasonable timescale for the consultation; and
(c) take account of the results of the consultation in making the relevant decision.
(3) Where, following a consultation, the Secretary of State takes a decision in relation to his proposal, he shall inform the public and provide information as to the reasons and considerations on which his decision is based as well as information as to the public participation process.
The Air Quality Standards Regulations 2007