PART 1Introduction
Citation, commencement, extent and application1
1
These Regulations may be cited as the Environmental Targets (Fine Particulate Matter) (England) Regulations 2023.
2
Subject to paragraph (3), these Regulations come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.
3
Paragraph 3(1)(b) of Schedule 2 comes into force on 1st January 2024.
4
These Regulations extend to England and Wales but apply in relation to England only.
Interpretation2
1
In these Regulations—
“the 2021 Act” means the Environment Act 2021;
“the 2010 Regulations” means the Air Quality Standards Regulations 20102;
“ambient air” means outdoor air, excluding the air in workplaces where members of the public do not have regular access;
“AQSR monitoring station” means a monitoring station which is used to measure PM2.5 levels for the purposes of the 2010 Regulations;
“fixed measurement” means a measurement taken at a fixed location, either continuously or by sampling at regular intervals, to determine levels of PM2.5;
“minimum annual data capture requirement” has the meaning given in regulation 14(4);
“monitoring station” is to be interpreted in accordance with regulation 12(4);
“ratified” has the meaning given in regulation 14(5);
“year” means a calendar year;
“zone” means one of the zones or agglomerations into which England is divided for air quality monitoring purposes, as determined under regulation 4 of the 2010 Regulations.
2
For the purposes of these Regulations—
a
particulate matter is to be treated as meeting the definition of PM2.53if it passes through a size-selective inlet with a 50% efficiency cut-off at 2.5 micrometres aerodynamic diameter;
b
a reference to the “level” of PM2.5means the mass concentration of PM2.5 measured in micrograms per cubic metre (“µg/m³”).
Air quality targets3
1
Regulation 4 specifies a target (“the annual mean concentration target”) for the purposes of the Secretary of State’s duty in section 2 of the 2021 Act to set a target in respect of the annual mean level of PM2.5 in ambient air.
2
Regulation 7 specifies a target (“the population exposure reduction target”) for the purposes of the Secretary of State’s duty in section 1 of the 2021 Act to set a long-term target in respect of air quality.