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June 2009 news
Spotlight turns on modelling
A report on ozone modelling has revealed continued efforts to improve
the ‘fitness for purpose’ of large scale models used to support Defra
policy.
Elections prompt air quality enthusiasm
In the run up to the European and local elections, Lib Dems have pledged
they will ensure the UK complies with European laws on air quality.
USAs delayed
Late guidance and the move to unitary authorities has been blamed for
the delays in getting updating and screening assessments in on time. Defra
has granted extensions to some local authorities.
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The reporting website can be
viewed on
www.airquality.co.uk/la_report_admin
Mayor hints at rethink on LEZ
London Mayor Boris Johnson has set out his thinking on low emission
zones in his formal review of the transport strategy. This strategy could
provide some hints as to the direction of the forthcoming revamp of the
London air quality strategy.
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Transport Strategy Statement of
Intent
www.london.gov.uk/mayor/publications/2009/05/transport-strategy.jsp
Ozone progress
AEA has compiled a report to Europe on the UK progress on ozone.
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UK and Gibraltar air quality
modelling for annual reporting 2007 on ambient air quality assessment under
Directives 96/62/EC and 2002/3/EC relating to ozone.
www.airquality.co.ukreports
Europe can rely on US death rates
A large Health Effects Institute study of Dutch residents has confirmed
that US pollution risk estimates can be used in Europe.
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Effects of long-term exposure to
traffic-related air pollution on respiratory and cardiovascular mortality in
the Netherlands: The NLCS-AIR study can be viewed on the Health Effects
Institute website
www.healtheffects.org
This year’s first warning issued
In early June, Defra issued its first smog alert of 2009.
Ministerial visit
Environment secretary Hilary Benn (left) has visited ERG’s air pollution
unit (seen here with ERG’s Gary Fuller).
Kings and Imperial cooperate on air
A joint environment centre has been set up to focus research on the
environment, including air quality.
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website
www.environment-health.ac.uk
Coke oven permit refused
The Environment Agency has refused an application from a South Yorkshire
coke and chemical plant to bring back into operation nine old coke ovens.
Scottish company fined for burning caravans
A company from Silloth-on-Solway has pleaded guilty at Carlisle Crown
Court to burning waste illegally on their own land.
Six year review of process notes
Defra is consulting on an indicative timetable for the review of the 80
process guidance (PG) notes on standards of air emissions regulated from
industrial activities.
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Information on progress will be
available on the Environment Agency’s Local Authorities Unit website at
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/permitting/36421.aspx
Further agreement on vapour regs
European Parliament has voted to approve at the first reading
legislation to cut harmful vapour emissions from fuel stations.
Mapping alternative launched
Users of Ordnance Survey mapping now have an alternative supplier. The
maps may be of interest to mappers of air quality and noise.
AQMA maps revealed in GIS exercise
A list of UK AQMAs is contained in a new report from AEA. The report
details AQMAs, flagging up recent changes, and how the areas have been set
into GIS form. 2008
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Updated GIS dataset of air quality
management areas can be viewed on
www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports
Buses feature in Oxford LEZ
Oxfordshire County Council has affirmed its support for its shared plan
with Oxford City Council to improve air quality by declaring a low emission
zone in the city.
Quinn Glass saga continues
Quinn Glass of Chester has appealed against an enforcement notice
requiring its plant to be dismantled.
Heatwave plan updated
New advice to help people with respiratory problems cope in a heatwave
has been published.
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The Heatwave Plan can be viewed on
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_084670
Defra endorses low emission approach
Defra air quality head Martin Williams has praised the Low Emission
Strategies (LES) Partnership and emphasised the importance for transport
planners, land use planners and environmental practitioners coming together
in a coherent and complementary way.
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The Low Emission Strategy
Partnership has a new website which can be viewed at
www.lowemissionstrategies.org
Scrappage scheme encourages small cars
The Government is claiming that the £2000 ‘new for old’ scrappage grants
have succeeded in increasing car sales.
Openair opens its doors
Air quality professionals can now access a new way of manipulating data
they collect through monitoring.
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Contact David Carslaw,
www.openair-project.org
Opsis canyon monitoring for Sandwell
Sandwell MBC faced difficulties when considering the best way to monitor
a street which, at ground level, had shops and offices and residents at
first or second floor level.
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More on Opsis:
www.et.co.uk
Mcerts confirms continued growth
Organisers of the recent Mcerts exhibition say visitor numbers grew by
10% in comparison with the 2007 figures.
World class places
New guidance aims to set out why and how quality of place matters and
the practical steps the Government will be taking to improve things.
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World class places: The
Government’s strategy for improving quality of place
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/worldclassplaces
Planners told
Northern Ireland planners have been told that greater weight will be
given in the future, where appropriate, to the economic consideration of
planning proposals.
Welsh guidance
The Welsh Assembly Government has issued its version of technical
guidance for air quality.
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http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/epq/airqualitypollution/laqmguidance/?lang=en
Composting odour
AEA has produced guidance on composting and odour control.
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Good practice and regulatory
guidance on composting and odour control for local authorities, NANR 275 can
be viewed on
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/noise/research/pdf/composting-odour-guidance.pdf
More trees in
London Mayor Boris Johnson says he is expanding his street tree
programme. He claims that street trees offer a range of benefits including
attracting wildlife, providing shade and helping improve local air quality.
EPP consultation
Consultation has started on the structure and content of several pieces
of draft Government guidance for the Environmental Permitting Regulations.
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www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/env-permitting-guidance
European quality
A report has been released on European quality of life. It reviews air
quality and noise impacts.
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Ensuring quality of life in
Europe’s cities and towns, EEA Report No 5/2009 can be viewed on
www.eea.europa.eu/publications
Hydrocarbons down
The annual summary of data produced by the UK ambient automatic
hydrocarbon air quality network shows continued falls in 2007.
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It can be viewed on the reports
section of
www.airquality.co.uk
GHG reports also
Two reports on greenhouse gas inventories have been published.
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UK greenhouse gas inventory, 1990
to 2007: Annual report for submission under the framework convention on
climate change and Summary of differences between geographical coverages of
reported GHG emissions can be viewed on
www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/
Forecast meeting
AEA is repeating its popular annual UK Air Quality Forecasting Seminar.
It will be held on Thursday 16th July at the Council House in Birmingham.
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Contact sue.powditch@ aeat.co.uk
for further information and a booking form.
Sussex web update
The Sussex Air Quality Partnership (Sussex-air) has launching its new
website (www.sussex-air.net) which provides new Google mapping of
near-real-time data from the Sussex-network accessible to the public.
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www.sussex-air.net
Monitors move
Air Monitors has moved. Its new telephone number is 01684 857530 and new
address is: Unit 2, Bredon Court, Brockeridge Park Twyning, Tewkesbury
Gloucestershire, GL20 6FF.
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www.airmonitors.co.uk
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