The Air Quality Limit Values Regulations 2003

Public information

16.—(1) The Secretary of State shall ensure that up-to-date information on ambient concentrations of each of the relevant pollutants and of ozone is routinely made available to the public in accordance with the following paragraphs.

(2) Information on ambient concentrations of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter shall be updated—

(a) in the case of hourly values for sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, where practicable on an hourly basis;

(b) in all other cases, as a minimum on a daily basis.

(3) Information on ambient concentrations of lead shall be updated on a three-monthly basis.

(4) Information on ambient concentrations of benzene, as an average value over the last 12 months, shall be updated—

(a) where practicable, on a monthly basis;

(b) in all other cases, as a minimum on a three-monthly basis.

(5) Information on ambient concentrations of carbon monoxide, as a maximum running average over eight hours, shall be updated—

(a) where practicable, on an hourly basis;

(b) in all other cases, as a minimum on a daily basis.

(6) The information on concentrations of ozone shall be updated—

(a) where appropriate and practicable, on an hourly basis; and

(b) in all other cases, as a minimum on a daily basis.

(7) Information made available with respect to each of the relevant pollutants shall include—

(a) an indication of the extent to which limit values and alert thresholds for relevant pollutants have been exceeded over the averaging periods specified in Schedule 1; and

(b) a short assessment of those exceedances and their effects on health.

(8) Information with respect to ozone made available shall include—

(a) an indication of each time and the extent to which ozone concentrations exceeded—

(i) the long-term objectives for the protection of human health;

(ii) the information threshold; or

(iii) the alert threshold

for the relevant averaging period; and

(b) a short assessment of those exceedances and their effects on health;

(c) comprehensive annual reports; and

(d) timely information about actual or predicted exceedances of the alert threshold.

(9) The annual reports referred to in paragraph (8)(c) shall, at least, contain—

(a) for human health, an indication of all exceedances of the target value, long-term objective or alert threshold for the relevant averaging period; and

(b) for vegetation—

(i) an indication of any exceedance of the target value or long-term objective; and

(ii) where appropriate, a short assessment of the effects of any such exceedance.

(10) The information referred to in paragraph (9)(b) may include, where appropriate—

(a) further information and assessments on forest protection, which set out for suburban, rural and rural background stations, based on one hour averaging, accumulated from May to July for a report of value for each year, whether levels of ozone concentrations in ambient air exceed 6,000µg/m³ per hour; and

(b) information on ozone precursor substances insofar as these are not covered by existing European Community legislation.

(11) Information and reports required to be made available by this regulation shall be published by appropriate means including, as appropriate, broadcast media, press, publications, information screens, the internet or other computer network services.

(12) The Secretary of State shall ensure that where information is provided to the public under paragraphs (7) and (13)—

(a) where there has been an exceedance of the information and alert threshold for ozone it includes the information specified in paragraph 1.2 of Part VII of Schedule 1; and

(b) where practicable, the information specified in paragraph 1.2 of Part VII of Schedule 1 is provided where an exceedance of the information threshold or alert threshold for ozone is predicted.

(13) When an alert threshold for sulphur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide is exceeded, the Secretary of State shall ensure that the necessary steps are taken to inform the public, and the information made available shall as a minimum include the information specified in paragraphs 1.3 of Part I and 1.3 of Part II, as applicable, of Schedule 1.

(14) Information to be made available to the public under this regulation shall include the map mentioned in the definition of “zone” in regulation 2 and action plans, plans and programmes prepared under regulations 10 and 11 respectively.

(15) For the purposes of this regulation, the public includes, but is not limited to, health care bodies and organisations having an interest in ambient air quality and representing the interests of sensitive populations, consumers and the environment.

(16) Information made available under this regulation shall be clear, comprehensible and accessible.