2000 No. 928
The Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000
Made
Coming into force
The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 87(1) and (2) and 91(1)1 of the Environment Act 19952 (“the 1995 Act”) and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, having, in accordance with section 87(7) of the 1995 Act, consulted the Environment Agency, such bodies or persons appearing to him to be representative of the interests of local government and of industry as he considers appropriate, and such other bodies or persons as he considers appropriate, hereby makes the following Regulations, a draft of which has, in accordance with section 87(8) of the 1995 Act, been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament:
Citation, commencement and extent1
1
These Regulations may be cited as the Air Quality (England) Regulations 2000 and shall come into force on the seventh day after the day on which they are made.
2
These Regulations extend to England only.
Interpretation2
1
In these Regulations, “the 1995 Act” means the Environment Act 1995.
2
The provisions of the Schedule to these Regulations which follow the Table in that Schedule shall have effect for the purpose of the interpretation of that Schedule.
Relevant periods3
1
The relevant period for the purposes of section 86(3) of the 1995 Act shall be, in relation to the preparation of an action plan to which that section applies, the period of 9 months beginning with the date on which the district council preparing the action plan first consults the relevant county council in relation to the plan pursuant to paragraph 1(2)(e) of Schedule 11 to the 1995 Act.
2
The relevant period for the purposes of any other provision of Part IV of the 1995 Act3 shall be, in relation to an air quality objective, the period beginning with the date on which these Regulations come into force and ending on the date set out in the third column of the Table in the Schedule which relates to that objective.
Air quality objectives4
1
It is an air quality objective for each substance listed in the first column of the Table in the Schedule to these Regulations that the level at which that substance is present in the air is restricted to a level set out in the second column of that Table for that substance by no later than the date set out in the third column of that Table for that substance and level.
2
The achievement or likely achievement of an air quality objective prescribed by paragraph (1) shall be determined by reference to the quality of air at locations–
a
which are situated outside of buildings or other natural or man-made structures above or below ground; and
b
where members of the public are regularly present.
Revocation5
The Air Quality Regulations 19974 are hereby revoked in so far as they extend to England.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions
SCHEDULEAIR QUALITY OBJECTIVES
Substance | Air quality objective levels | Air quality objective dates |
---|---|---|
Benzene | 16.25 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as a running annual mean | 31st December 2003 |
1,3 –Butadiene | 2.25 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as a running annual mean | 31st December 2003 |
Carbon monoxide | 11.6 milligrams per cubic metre or less, when expressed as a running 8 hour mean | 31st December 2003 |
Lead | 0.5 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as an annual mean 0.25 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as an annual mean | 31st December 2004 31st December 2008 |
Nitrogen dioxide | 200 micrograms per cubic metre, when expressed as an hourly mean, not to be exceeded more than 18 times a year 40 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as an annual mean | 31st December 2005 31st December 2005 |
PM10 | 50 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as a 24 hour mean, not to be exceeded more than 35 times a year 40 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as an annual mean | 31st December 2004 31st December 2004 |
Sulphur dioxide | 125 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as a 24 hour mean, not to be exceeded more than 3 times a year 350 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as an hourly mean, not to be exceeded more than 24 times a year 266 micrograms per cubic metre or less, when expressed as a 15 minute mean, not to be exceeded more than 35 times a year | 31st December 2004 31st December 2004 31st December 2005 |
Interpretation For the purposes of this Schedule:
|
(This note is not part of the Regulations)