U.K. SETS PROGRAM TO CURB AIRBORNE POLLUTION

Jan. 30, 1995
Britain's Departments of Environment and Transport have outlined plans to improve air quality through a program to be implemented largely by local authorities. While broadly welcoming the initiative, U.K. refining and marketing companies are concerned that leaving implementation to local authorities may cause a patchwork of requirements across the country. The new plans set targets for airborne levels of benzene, 1,3-butadiene, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and five other pollutants to

Britain's Departments of Environment and Transport have outlined plans to improve air quality through a program to be implemented largely by local authorities.

While broadly welcoming the initiative, U.K. refining and marketing companies are concerned that leaving implementation to local authorities may cause a patchwork of requirements across the country.

The new plans set targets for airborne levels of benzene, 1,3-butadiene, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and five other pollutants to be achieved about the turn of the century.

"These proposals set a strategic framework for air quality management which will deliver continued improvements into the next century," said U.K. Environment Sec. John Gummer.

"As a first step, I propose to require local authorities to carry out regular assessments of local air quality. Where it is found to be poor, there will be a duty to establish an Air Quality Management Area.

"I intend to legislate swiftly to implement these proposals. Initial guidance to local authorities on implementing the proposals will be published early next year, and initial assessments of major urban areas should be in place within 2 years."

Specific targets call for:

  • Benzene levels of less than 5 ppb by 2000.

  • Gasoline combustion by-product 1,3-butadiene of less than 1 ppb by 2005.

  • CO levels less than 10 ppm by 2005.

  • Sulfur dioxide levels, expected to be announced in February, to be in line with international protocols.

  • Ozone levels of less than 50 ppb by 1999, pending discussions with European governments.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

The ministries also expect to set limits for airborne particles, nitrogen dioxide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and lead after receipt of recommendations from a government advisory panel on air quality.

An environment department official said some local authorities already have monitoring sites. There are a total of 1,200 nitrogen dioxide units and 50 large urban monitoring sites at present.

The department was said to hope that every major town and city will have its own monitoring sites and be spending 4 million ($6 million)/year to install check points.

The U.K. Petroleum Industry Association (Ukpia) said the proposal is a step forward that builds on a rational approach to improving air quality under realistic schedules.

Ukpia Director Gen. David Parker said, "The strategy acknowledges the reduction in emissions that has taken place over the last few years as a result of action by the oil and motor industries and the accelerating improvement anticipated over the next decade."

Parker also said the U.K. oil and auto industries are committed to further improvements and have joined with the European Commission in the Tripartite Initiative to identify the most cost effective ways of achieving Europe's air quality standards (OGJ, Nov. 7, 1994, p. 40).

A Ukpia official said the only problem oil companies foresee is the possibility of inconsistency in measurement standards and local fuels standards.

"We hope government will provide clear guidelines as to what local authorities can and cannot do," said the Ukpia official. "We expect a more detailed paper from government this summer."

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