throughout the EU, and new data quality objectives and amendments to the siting arrangements for monitoring stations to enable more robust assessment of air quality. 2.7 In assessing ambient air quality, the makes use of the provision in the Directive to supplement monitoring data with modelling. Both monitored and modelled data are then reported to the Commission. By using this provision, the may reduce the number of sampling points by 50% which has two advantages. Firstly this reduces costs, as modelling is more cost-effective than monitoring, and secondly it improves the spatial resolution as the number of data points throughout the territory is increased. District councils and industry roles 2.8 All obligations in the draft Regulations in relation to air quality management are attributed to the Department. However, district councils have statutory duties for local air quality management (LAQM) under the Environment () Order 2002. The LAQM regime is a key factor in enabling to comply with the Directive. District councils are required to carry out regular reviews and assessments of air quality in their areas against standards and objectives prescribed in the Air Quality Regulations () 2003 (as amended). Many of these objectives mirror the limit values prescribed by the Directive. Where any objective is unlikely to be met by the relevant deadline, district councils must designate those areas as air quality management areas (AQMAs) and take action to work towards meeting the objectives. 2.9 The Department has the power, under Article 14(5) of the Environment () Order 2002, to direct district councils to take appropriate steps for the implementation of Community Treaties and international agreement binding on the . 2.10 The LAQM framework across the is currently subject to review. Subject to the recommendations from that, it is our intention to explore at a later date the scope for, and implications of, streamlining the relationship between EU limits and the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 LAQM regime into one legislative framework. The question of whether the intention in the National Air Quality Strategy in 2007 to establish a new PM2.5 objective should be enshrined in legislation will be one issue for examination. Consideration would also need to be given to district council duties in relation to PM2.5.
throughout the EU, and new data quality objectives and amendments to the siting arrangements for monitoring stations to enable more robust assessment of air quality. 2.7 In assessing ambient air quality, the makes use of the provision in the Directive to supplement monitoring data with modelling. Both monitored and modelled data are then reported to the Commission. By using this provision, the may reduce the number of sampling points by 50% which has two advantages. Firstly this reduces costs, as modelling is more cost-effective than monitoring, and secondly it improves the spatial resolution as the number of data points throughout the territory is increased. District councils and industry roles 2.8 All obligations in the draft Regulations in relation to air quality management are attributed to the Department. However, district councils have statutory duties for local air quality management (LAQM) under the Environment () Order 2002. The LAQM regime is a key factor in enabling to comply with the Directive. District councils are required to carry out regular reviews and assessments of air quality in their areas against standards and objectives prescribed in the Air Quality Regulations () 2003 (as amended). Many of these objectives mirror the limit values prescribed by the Directive. Where any objective is unlikely to be met by the relevant deadline, district councils must designate those areas as air quality management areas (AQMAs) and take action to work towards meeting the objectives. 2.9 The Department has the power, under Article 14(5) of the Environment () Order 2002, to direct district councils to take appropriate steps for the implementation of Community Treaties and international agreement binding on the . 2.10 The LAQM framework across the is currently subject to review. Subject to the recommendations from that, it is our intention to explore at a later date the scope for, and implications of, streamlining the relationship between EU limits and the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 LAQM regime into one legislative framework. The question of whether the intention in the National Air Quality Strategy in 2007 to establish a new PM2.5 objective should be enshrined in legislation will be one issue for examination. Consideration would also need to be given to district council duties in relation to PM2.5.
403100208_Revised_draft_AQ_consultation_document_(January_2010).docx