This snapshot, taken on 21/12/2003, shows web content selected for preservation by The National Archives. External links, forms and search boxes may not work in archived websites.
The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, issued in January 2000, sets health-based objectives for eight ambient air pollutants. The consultation published in September 2001 sought views on the proposals to: supplement the present air quality objectives for carbon monoxide and benzene taking account of expert advice and new European limit values; set new long term objectives for particles (PM10); and introduce, for the first time, an objective for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The consultation closed in December 2001 and a summary of the responses has now been published.
The objectives for these four pollutants, once agreed, will form an addendum to the 2000 Strategy. It is proposed, for the purpose of local air quality management, to include in UK wide regulations the objectives for benzene and carbon monoxide, and the objectives for particles in regulations in Scotland and Wales. Local authorities will be required to review and assess these air pollutants in their areas and take action where the objectives are unlikely to be met. The existing objectives in the 2000 Strategy, not covered in the scope of this review, will remain in regulation.
The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 2000 is also available on the Defra web site.
Consultation Paper
The consultation paper is available here in both HTML and Adobe Acrobat formats
Supporting Analysis
In support of the Strategy, a report has been published on the economic analysis to inform the review of the Strategy objectives for particles. It is the second report of the Interdepartmental Group on Costs and Benefits.
Responses
The Executive Summary of the consultation document sets out the main proposals on which comments are sought. Comments on these and any other aspect of the consultation should be sent by post or e-mail to the appropriate contact for England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland listed here, or on page 8 of the printed version of the document. The deadline for comments is Wednesday 12 December 2001.
Enquiries about this page should be sent to air.quality@defra.gsi.gov.uk
[ Previous ] [Contents ] [ Next ]
Published 17 September 2001 (HTML version 2 October 2001) Updated 8 August 2002
Environmental Protection Consultation Index
Air Quality Index
Environmental Protection Index
Defra Home Page