Consultation on new Air Quality Regulations
This consultation, issued on 1st September, sets out proposals to transpose Directive 2004/107/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 15 December 2004 relating to arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air (fourth Daughter Directive).
The consultation paper sets out the background to the fourth Daughter Directive and actions that the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs proposes to take to implement the necessary measures to meet UK obligations.
The paper also sets out the background to existing air quality legislation and the proposals to streamline the existing legislation by consolidating the existing Air Quality Limit Values Regulations 2003 with the proposed set of Regulations that give effect to the fourth Daughter Directive. These measures aim to simplify air quality legislation and propose new regulations, the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2007. These will apply to England, with the exception of regulation 29 (relating to transboundary pollution), which applies throughout the United Kingdom. Similar papers covering Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be published by the devolved administrations.
The Regulations do not themselves create any direct obligations for industry. However, regulators will take them into account when determining permits or other controls on emissions, under other legislation, in order that limit values are not exceeded.
Responses should be received by 24 November 2006. Further information can be obtained from http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/air-4daughter2006/index.htm
Source: www.defra.gov.uk (accessed 01/09/06)