Tony Lloyd, GM Interim Mayor and Jon Lamonte, Chief Executive, TfGM

Transcription

1 10a Date: 26 February 2016 Subject: Report of: GM Air Quality Management Area Review Tony Lloyd, GM Interim Mayor and Jon Lamonte, Chief Executive, TfGM PURPOSE OF REPORT To seek approval to declare a revised Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) for Greater Manchester based on the extant level of exceedances of 35 micrograms per cubic metre and above. RECOMMENDATIONS: Members are requested to approve the declaration of a revised AQMA based on exceedances of 35 micrograms per cubic metre and above. CONTACT OFFICERS: Helen Smith Helen.smith@tfgm.com 1 19/02/ :37

2 BACKGROUND PAPERS: Appendix 1 Existing AQMA established in 2006 Appendix 2 Proposed AQMA TRACKING/PROCESS Does this report relate to a Key Decision, as set out in the No GMCA Constitution or in the process agreed by the AGMA Executive Board EXEMPTION FROM CALL IN Are there any aspects in this report which No means it should be considered to be exempt from call in by the AGMA Scrutiny Pool on the grounds of urgency? AGMA Commission TfGMC Scrutiny Pool N/A N/A N/A 2 19/02/ :37

3 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 The Environment Act 1995 requires that Local Authorities (LA) produce periodic air quality review and assessment reports which set out whether the Government s health based emissions objective levels will be met by target dates. If the air quality review and assessment identifies areas where the objectives are not likely to be met the LA must publically designate these as Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). 1.2 The 2005 Greater Manchester review and assessment identified that the air quality objectives for nitrogen dioxide may not be achieved in certain parts of the region. In response, GM established a continuous AQMA in 2006, declared separately by each LA. 1.3 Data is routinely gathered from some 300 detectors across GM and is modelled to provide a picture of the air quality across the conurbation. This work has identified the need to review the boundary of the AQMA. This then aligns with the DEFRA guidance on air quality issued late last year, and can inform the GM Spatial Framework plans. 2. AQMA Review 2.1 This recent review and assessment report uses the most up-to-date monitoring data and modelling techniques to identify likely exceedances of the air quality objectives. Since the previous report was produced, methods to estimate emissions and model pollution concentrations, along with vehicle engine technology, have improved. This means that for some locations the assessment of whether the air quality objectives will be achieved or not has altered. 2.2 The National Objective Level for annual average nitrogen dioxide emissions is 40 micrograms per cubic metre. When the existing AQMAs were declared the decision was made to take a precautionary approach, taking account of modelling uncertainties and the fact that the air quality objectives are set to protect human health. The areas likely to exceed the objectives were therefore identified as those locations where the air quality review and assessment had estimated that pollution concentrations would be greater than 35 micrograms per cubic metre. A consistent approach was developed and implemented across all ten Greater Manchester authorities. 2.3 The individual LAs have worked closely to maintain a consistent approach to air quality review and assessment and work is currently underway to finalise the Greater Manchester Air Quality Action Plan which sets out key activities to improve air quality. On this basis, it is recommended that one AQMA is declared for all Greater Manchester authorities as air pollution does not recognise administrative boundaries. GMCA ] GM Air Quality Management Area 3 19/02/ :37

4 2.4 It is proposed that the precautionary approach adopted when the current AQMA was declared is maintained at a level of 35 micrograms per cubic metre. This approach takes account of the improvements but also the remaining uncertainties inherent in predicting pollution concentrations, which are greatly dependent upon meteorological conditions. 3. Impact of the AQMA review 3.1 The review and assessment report looked closely at pollution concentrations near busy roads and junctions. In comparison with the existing AQMA, the proposed new AQMA has reduced in size. The original AQMA is shown at Appendix 1 and the revised version, using the same limit but reflecting the improvements in the last 10 years, is at Appendix Although the size of the AQMA has reduced, significant intervention will be required to ensure that Greater Manchester is able to meet EU and National objective levels by 2020 as required by DEFRA. These plans are set out in the draft Air Quality Action Plan. 4. RECOMMENDATIONS 4.1 Recommendations are set out at the front of this report. Dr Jon Lamonte Chief Executive, TfGM 4 19/02/ :37

5 Appendix /02/ :37

6 Appendix /02/ :37