The Air Quality Standards Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

Action plans

11.—(1) The Department, after consultation with other Northern Ireland departments, shall—

(a) in accordance with paragraphs (2) to (4) and (6), prepare; and

(b) in accordance with paragraph (5) and (6), implement,

action plans.

(2) The action plans shall indicate the measures to be taken within any zone in the short term in order to achieve the objectives set out in paragraph (3) in the event of circumstances in which the Department considers there is a risk that any one of the following will be exceeded—

(a) a limit value;

(b) the alert threshold for nitrogen dioxide or sulphur dioxide; or

(c) subject to paragraph (4), the alert threshold for ozone.

(3) The objectives of each action plan shall be—

(a) to reduce the risk that the relevant limit value or alert threshold will be exceeded; or

(b) where it is not possible to prevent the relevant limit value or alert threshold being exceeded, to limit the duration or severity of the occurrence.

(4) In relation to ozone, the obligation imposed by paragraph (1)(a) shall only apply in so far as, taking account geographical, meteorological and economic conditions, the Department considers there is significant potential for the objectives set out in paragraph (3) to be achieved.

(5) When the risks referred to in paragraph (2) arise within a zone, the measures indicated in the relevant action plans within the zone concerned shall be implemented—

(a) by the Department and those other Northern Ireland departments in respect of paragraph 2(a) and 2(b); and

(b) by the Department in respect of paragraph 2(c),

to the extent that it is considered necessary in the circumstances of the particular case.

(6) In preparing and implementing any action plans for ozone, the Department shall have regard to Annexes I and II to the Commission Decision of 19 March 2004 concerning guidance for implementation of Directive 2002/3/EC(1)

(7) Schedule 3 has effect in prescribing—

(a) alert thresholds for nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide, in Part 1 of that Schedule; and

(b) the alert threshold and information threshold for ozone, in Part 2 of that Schedule.

(1)

OJ No L 87, 25.03.04, p.50