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

Regulation 8(2)

SCHEDULE 1 Population exposure reduction target: calculations

Initial calculations

1.  The following are to be calculated by 15th July 2023—

(a) the Population Exposure Indicator for the baseline period (“PEIbase”);

(b) the Population Exposure Indicator for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022;

(c) the Reference Indicator for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022;

(d) Δ for each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, where “Δ”, for a year, means the amount by which the Population Exposure Indicator for that year is greater or less than the Reference Indicator for that year.

Annual calculations

2.  The following are to be calculated for each year from 2023 onwards (“year n”), by 15th July in the following year—

(a) the Population Exposure Indicator for year n;

(b) the Reference Indicator for year n;

(c) Δ for year n;

(d) the sum of Δ for each of the years beginning with 2019 up to and including year n (“Δsum”);

(e) the cumulative total of the annual changes to the Population Exposure Indicator from the baseline period up to and including year n, expressed as a percentage of PEIbase, as determined by the calculation—

Calculation of PEIbase, Population Exposure Indicator and Reference Indicator

3.—(1) PEIbase is to be calculated by carrying out the following steps—

• step 1: the mean is calculated of the annual mean PM_2.5 level in 2016 for each baseline monitoring station which was in operation throughout that year and met the minimum annual data capture requirement in that year;

• step 2: step 1 is repeated for 2017 and 2018;

• step 3: the mean of the values calculated under steps 1 and 2 for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018 is calculated to obtain PEIbase.

(2) The Population Exposure Indicator for a year (“PEIyear”)is to be calculated by carrying out the following steps—

• step 1: the mean is calculated of the annual mean PM_2.5 levels in that year for each PEI monitoring station, excluding any PEI monitoring station which did not meet the minimum annual data capture requirement in that year;

• step 2: step 1 is repeated for each of the two preceding years;

• step 3: the mean of the values calculated under steps 1 and 2 for those three years is calculated to obtain PEIyear.

(3) The Reference Indicator for a year (“RIyear”)is to be calculated by carrying out the following steps—

• step 1: the mean is calculated of the annual mean PM_2.5 levels in the preceding year for each PEI monitoring station, excluding any PEI monitoring station which did not meet the minimum annual data capture requirement in that year;

• step 2: step 1 is repeated for each of the two previous years;

• step 3: the mean of the values calculated under steps 1 and 2 for those three years is calculated to obtain RIyear.

Calculation and rounding

4.—(1) The calculations in this Schedule are to be made using PM_2.5 levels in µg/m³ measured to one decimal place.

(2) Any amount or value to be calculated under this Schedule is to be calculated to at least two decimal places, and if it is used for any subsequent calculation under this Schedule the unrounded amount or value is to be used.

(3) For the purpose of publication under paragraphs 9 to 11 of Schedule 3 (information required to be published)—

(a) PEIbase and PEIyear are to be expressed to two decimal places;

(b) the percentage calculated under paragraph 2(e) is to be rounded to the nearest whole number.

Interpretation of Schedule 1

5.—(1) In this Schedule—

“background monitoring station” means a monitoring station which is at an urban background site or a suburban background site, within the meanings given in paragraph 1 of Schedule 2, and for this purpose “monitoring station” in relation to any time before these Regulations came into force includes any AQSR monitoring station which was in operation at that time;

“baseline monitoring station” means a background monitoring station which in one or more of the years 2016, 2017 and 2018—

(a)

was in operation throughout that year; and

(b)

met the minimum annual data capture requirement in that year;

“Δ” has the meaning given in paragraph 1(d);

“PEIbase” has the meaning given in paragraph 1(a);

“PEI monitoring station”, in relation to the measurement of the Population Exposure Indicator or the Reference Indicator for a year, means a background monitoring station which—

(a)

is or was in operation throughout that year and the three preceding years; and

(b)

met the minimum annual data capture requirement in at least three of those four years.

(2) In determining whether a background monitoring station was in operation throughout a year any periods in which the station was temporarily out of operation, for example for maintenance or repair, are to be disregarded.