The Air Quality Standards (Scotland) Regulations 2010

PART 6 Public information

Public information

27.—(1) The Scottish Ministers must make the following available to the public and appropriate interested organisations:—

(a) up-to-date information given on at least a daily basis, and if possible on an hourly basis, on concentrations of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, PM₁₀ (and if possible, PM_2.5), ozone and carbon monoxide;

(b) up-to-date information on concentrations of benzene and lead, presented as an average over the last 12 months, and updated every three months or if possible every month;

(c) up-to-date information as to any amendment to the attainment dates for limit values for nitrogen dioxide or PM₁₀;

(d) up-to-date information on concentrations and deposition rates of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel, benzo(a)pyrene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons;

(e) information about cases where target values for arsenic, cadmium, nickel and benzo(a)pyrene are exceeded, together with reasons for such cases, the area concerned, and appropriate information regarding effects on health and the environment;

(f) information on measures taken to achieve target values for arsenic, cadmium, nickel and benzo(a)pyrene;

(g) information about actual or predicted instances where pollutants exceed alert or information thresholds;

(h) air quality plans;

(i) short-term action plans.

(2) The information in paragraph (1)(g) must be made available in accordance with Schedule 8.

(3) Information must be distributed free of charge in a clear and comprehensible manner via any easily accessible media including the internet or other appropriate means of telecommunication taking into account the requirements of Council Directive 2007/2/EC on establishing an infrastructure for spatial information in the European Community (INSPIRE)(1).

(4) For the purposes of this regulation, “interested organisations” includes environmental organisations, consumer organisations, organisations representing sensitive populations, relevant healthcare bodies and industrial federations.

Annual reports

28.—(1) The Scottish Ministers must publish annual reports for all the pollutants.

(2) Annual reports must contain the following information:—

(a) details of all cases where levels of pollutants have exceeded limit values, target values, long term objectives, information and alert thresholds set out in Schedules 2 to 5 for the relevant averaging periods; and

(b) a summary assessment of the effects of the cases referred to in sub-paragraph (a).

(3) Annual reports may contain further information where appropriate, including assessments on forest protection and information as to ozone precursor substances listed in section B of Annex X to Directive 2008/50/EC as the Scottish Ministers think appropriate.

(1)

O.J. No. L 108, 25.4.07, p.1.