Background to Local Air Quality Management

Local Authorities have a statutory obligation to review and assess air quality within their boundaries from time to time under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 and subsequent regulations. The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (AQS) sets out prescribed air quality objectives for target pollutants against which each local authority must assess air quality. It also establishes a framework for air quality improvements. The role of the local authority review and assessment is to identify, with reasonable certainty, areas where it is considered likely that one, or more, of the air quality objectives will be exceeded. If any of the objectives are likely to be exceeded then the local authority is required to declare an Air Quality Management Area for the designated pollutant(s).

The phased approach to Review and Assessment

The review and assessment process for local air quality management is based on a phased approach with the first step being the Updating and Screening Assessment (U&SA). East Lothian Council undertook U&SA's in March 2004 and August 2006. Click here to download an Executive Summary of the March 2004 Report. Click here to download an Executive Summary of the August 2006 Report.

If it is identified in the U&SA that there is sufficient risk of an air quality objective being exceeded then the local authority is required to undertake a Detailed Assessment of local air quality to determine the likelihood of exceedences at any particular location with relevant public exposure. East Lothian Council last undertook a Detailed Assessment in April 2005. Click here to download an Executive Summary of the 2005 Report.

The Final Step in any round of review and assessment of local air quality involves the preparation of a Progress Report. The aims of the report are to advise of progress on: implementing local air quality management; and achieving and/or maintaining concentrations of pollutants below the air quality objectives. East Lothian Council completed a Progress Report in August 2005. Click here to download a copy of this report.

The Current Situation

The results of the Updating and Screening Assessment completed out for all pollutants in August 2006 indicates that current Air Quality Objectives are being complied with and that, furthermore, there will be no potential exceedences of the air quality objectives specified for 2008 (Lead) and 2010 (Benzene and PM10). There is no requirement to proceed to a detailed assessment for any pollutants.

Contact Us

E-mail: ehts@eastlothian.gov.uk
Tel: 01620 827365