THIS REPORT RELATES STIRLING COUNCIL TO ITEM ON THE AGENDA

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

10 February 2000 NOT EXEMPT

UPDATE ON LOCAL AIR QUALITY STRATEGY

1 PURPOSE

1.1 To advise the Committee of the progress which has been made in the assessment of local air quality within the Stirling Council area.

2 SUMMARY

2.1 Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 placed a duty on Local Authorities to periodically review the air quality in their area. Under the new system Local Authorities like Stirling Council, have a statutory duty to systematically and regularly review air quality in their area, measured against the criteria set out in the National Air Quality Strategy. This includes the requirement to designate Air Quality Management Areas (where necessary) and to develop action plans.

2.2 The strategy sets out standards and objectives for the control and reduction of the eight main health-threatening pollutants. These have been based on the recommendations of the Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards (EPAQS) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) and are nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulates (PM10), Benzene, 1.1.3. Butadiene, lead and ozone.

2.3 The objective for each pollutant to be reached by the year 2003 – 2008, depending upon pollutant, has been incorporated into the Air Quality Regulations 1997. Local Authorities are required to take account of these objectives when reviewing the local air quality and, where necessary, draw up an action plan if standards are being breached or are at risk.

2.4 The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) has published guidance on how to undertake these studies and it is this guidance which Stirling Council is now following.

2.5 This report gives further details of the results of the First Stage Review with an update on the additional monitoring carried out by CORDAH, the air quality consultants retained by the Council, and of the response to this review by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Scottish Executive (SE). The responses from SEPA and the SE in respect of individual parameters will be dealt with under 4 – Considerations, however, in general terms they concurred with the conclusions itemised in the original CORDAH report. They also confirmed the previously identified need to carry out -2-

additional monitoring of certain parameters prior to a decision being taken as to whether or not to proceed to a formal Second Stage Review. The results of the additional monitoring carried out to date do not indicate that a Second Stage Review will be necessary. A supplementary report is currently being prepared by CORDAH to take account of the responses from SEPA and The SE.

3 RECOMMENDATION(S)

3.1 To authorise the Director of Environmental Services to make arrangements for the continuation of the additional monitoring currently in place.

3.2 To authorise the Director of Environmental Services to make arrangements for the establishment of an extended programme of air quality monitoring until the end of 2003.

4 CONSIDERATIONS

4.1 The responses with regard to individual parameters were as follows:-

Carbon monoxide - Unlikely to exceed the prescribed level. (Principal sources – combustion processes like open fires)

Benzene - Unlikely to exceed the prescribed level. (Principal source – petrol driven vehicles)

1,3-butadiene - Unlikely to exceed the prescribed level. (Principal sources – fuel combustion in petrol and diesel powered vehicles)

Lead - Unlikely to exceed the prescribed level. (Principal source – leaded petrol in vehicles)

Nitrogen dioxide - Further monitoring required and being undertaken. (Principal sources – combustion processes and road traffic)

PM10 - Further monitoring required and has been undertaken. (Principal sources – combustion processes, especially diesel powered vehicles)

Sulphur dioxide - Further research required to confirm current position and additional monitoring is being undertaken. (Principal sources – burning of coal and oil, especially coal burning power stations)

4.2 Additional sites, which are currently being monitored for Nitrogen dioxide, are located in Stirling, Cowie, Cambusbarron, Killearn, Aberfoyle, Bridge of Allan, Dunblane, Callander and Lochearnhead. -3-

4.3 Additional sites, which are currently being monitored for Sulphur dioxide, are located in Stirling, Cowie, Cambusbarron, Callander and Lochearnhead.

4.4 The levels of smoke and sulphur dioxide in the air have been measured in Stirling for a number of years and have always been within the guideline values. Graphs showing the general downward trend of these parameters from 1979 – 1998 (the latest full year data available) are attached for information (Appendix 1).

4.5 Graphs of the measured levels of Nitrogen dioxide at five mixed urban and rural locations with the Stirling Council area for 1999 are attached (Appendix 1) and display the wide seasonal variation which may be expected due to tourist related activities, amongst other factors. The higher levels obtained at an urban site (Port Street) in comparison with a rural (Loch Earn) are also shown.

4.6 Since measured data is highly influenced by weather, as well as changes in the emission of pollutants, it is very difficult to assess whether any observed change is due to a long-term trend or simply the result of a different weather pattern for that year. For this reason, and for reasons to do with the methods of calculating trends, it is considered that a trend only becomes meaningful when data records extend over five years or more.

4.7 It would be inappropriate to directly compare the measured levels within the Stirling Council area with other named local authorities however it can be said that we do not expect to exceed any of the guideline parameters. At least one neighbouring local authority is predicting exceedences in Nitrogen dioxide and particulates (PM10) at certain locations. The level of Sulphur dioxide is also expected to exceed guideline levels due to the presence of a large petrochemical complex and a coal fired power station within the area of another authority.

4.8 The new National Air Quality Strategy issued by DETR requires that a second round of assessments and reviews of local air quality be carried out by the end of 2003.

4.9 The current and proposed level of monitoring is expected to provide sufficient data for the completion of the second round review by the required date.

5 POLICY IMPLICATIONS

5.1 The data obtained from the continued and expanded level of monitoring will form the basis of Council Policy for attaining compliance with the objectives of the National Air Quality Strategy.

6 CONSULTATIONS

6.1 The guidance issued by the DETR requires that reports of each stage of the review and assessment process must be put out to consultation with:-

• The Scottish Executive;

• SEPA; -4-

• neighbouring Local Authorities;

• other relevant Public Authorities;

• bodies representative of local business interests;

This process has now been completed and the information posted on the Stirling Council web site for public access.

7 RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS

7.1 Resources for the current and proposed level of monitoring have been allocated by the SE to the Council and have been included in the current budget. No additional resources will be required.

8 BACKGROUND PAPERS

8.1 Report to Environmental Quality Committee meeting on 6 February 1997 “Part IV the Environmental Act 1990, Local Air Quality Management.”

8.2 Report to Environmental Quality Committee meeting on 5 February 1998 “Air Quality Regulations 1997”.

8.3 Report by CORDAH – Air Quality Review Study.

8.4 Report to Environmental Quality Committee meeting on 12 November 1998 “Update on Local Air Quality Strategy”.

Author(s) Name Designation Tel No/Extension

Arthur Law Environmental Health Officer 01786 432247

Approved by Name Designation Signature

David Martin Director of Environmental Services

Date Reference

EQ135al 09/10/2000 -5-

APPENDIX 1

Stirling Levels of Smoke in the Air (µg/m³) 1979 - 1998

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997

Stirling Levels of Sulphur Dioxide in the Air (µg/m³) 1979 - 1998

40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 -6-

APPENDIX 1

Levels of Nitrogen Dioxide in the Air (µg/m³) 1999 (Government Air Quality Standard - Annual Mean of 40 µg/m³)

40 35 30 25 Port Street St Modans 20 Park Terr 15 Lennox Ave 10 Loch Earn 5 0 Feb Mar Apr May June July

Levels of Nitrogen Dioxide in the Air (µg/m³) 1999 (Government Air Quality Standard - Annual Mean of 40 µg/m³)

45 40 35 30 Port Street 25 St Modans 20 Park Terr 15 Lennox Ave Loch Earn 10 5 0 Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec