Short-term action plans
26.—(1) Where in any zone, there is a risk that levels of sulphur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide will exceed the alert thresholds set out in Schedule 5, the Department, after consultation with other Northern Ireland departments, shall draw up and implement a short-term action plan.
(2) A short-term action plan shall set out the measures intended to reduce the risk of alert thresholds being exceeded, or in the event of the levels being exceeded, to reduce the duration of such an incident.
(3) Where, in any zone, levels of ozone exceed the alert threshold set out in Schedule 5 or there is a risk that they will exceed that threshold, the Department, after consultation with other Northern Ireland departments, shall draw up and implement a short-term action plan taking into account Decision 2004/279/EC(1), if of the opinion that it is reasonably likely that the risk of alert level being exceeded, or the severity or duration of such an incident can be reduced taking into account geographical, meteorological and economic conditions.
(4) For the purposes of paragraph (3), the threshold must be exceeded or be predicted to exceed the alert threshold for at least three consecutive hours.
(5) Short-term action plans may also be drawn up where there is a risk that any of the limit values or targets values set out in Schedules 2 or 3 will be exceeded.
OJ No L 87, 25.3.04, p.50