The Environmental Targets (Fine Particulate Matter) (England) Regulations 2023

PART 1 Introduction

Citation, commencement, extent and application

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Environmental Targets (Fine Particulate Matter) (England) Regulations 2023.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), these Regulations come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.

(3) Paragraph 3(1)(b) of Schedule 2 comes into force on 1st January 2024.

(4) These Regulations extend to England and Wales but apply in relation to England only.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In these Regulations—

“the 2021 Act” means the Environment Act 2021;

“the 2010 Regulations” means the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010(1);

“ambient air” means outdoor air, excluding the air in workplaces where members of the public do not have regular access;

“AQSR monitoring station” means a monitoring station which is used to measure PM_2.5 levels for the purposes of the 2010 Regulations;

“fixed measurement” means a measurement taken at a fixed location, either continuously or by sampling at regular intervals, to determine levels of PM_2.5;

“minimum annual data capture requirement” has the meaning given in regulation 14(4);

“monitoring station” is to be interpreted in accordance with regulation 12(4);

“ratified” has the meaning given in regulation 14(5);

“year” means a calendar year;

“zone” means one of the zones or agglomerations into which England is divided for air quality monitoring purposes, as determined under regulation 4 of the 2010 Regulations.

(2) For the purposes of these Regulations—

(a) particulate matter is to be treated as meeting the definition of PM_2.5(2)if it passes through a size-selective inlet with a 50% efficiency cut-off at 2.5 micrometres aerodynamic diameter;

(b) a reference to the “level” of PM_2.5means the mass concentration of PM_2.5 measured in micrograms per cubic metre (“µg/m³”).

Air quality targets

3.—(1) Regulation 4 specifies a target (“the annual mean concentration target”) for the purposes of the Secretary of State’s duty in section 2 of the 2021 Act to set a target in respect of the annual mean level of PM_2.5 in ambient air.

(2) Regulation 7 specifies a target (“the population exposure reduction target”) for the purposes of the Secretary of State’s duty in section 1 of the 2021 Act to set a long-term target in respect of air quality.

(1)

S.I. 2010/1001, amended by S.I. 2016/1184, 2018/110, 2019/74 and 2020/1313.

(2)

See section 2(3) of the 2021 Act.