Review of Local Air Quality Management (England) - regulatory and guidance changes

Overview

The purpose of this consultation is to invite views on our proposals to improve Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) delivery in England.  This is a follow-up consultation to one issued in July 2013.

This latest consultation contains a number of proposals to reduce regulatory and administrative burdens in line with commitments made under the Red Tape Challenge, and to improve the overall effectiveness of LAQM in dealing with current air quality  challenges.  The attached consultation document is split into two parts: regulatory consultation on a statutory instrument to enable the removal of four redundant pollutants (Benzene; 1,3 Butadiene; Carbon Monoxide; and Lead) for local authority reporting purposes; and part two which provides an overview of non-regulatory changes such as streamlining of reporting processes and providing local authorities with a role to tackle PM2.5 (fine particulates) to be set out in statutory guidance.  Part two will be subject to a further, more detailed consultation in late 2015
 

A summary of  responses will be compiled based on comments submitted during the 6 week consultation period.   The consultation is aimed principally at air quality practitioners in England, but we want to hear views from as wide a range of interested parties as possible. 

For more information, please scroll down to the 'Related Documents' section for the latest consultation, impact assessment and statutory instrument.

Further Information:

To be aware if you are preparing responses to the attached please be advised that this consultation is not recommending any outcome that would see a reduction in monitoring of NO2 or PM.

We are consulting on changes to reduce the administrative burden placed on councils from reporting their monitoring to Defra. To achieve this we propose streamlining council reporting into one annual report which would be more publicly accessible, while still containing the same quality of information.

This will allow councils to focus on taking action to improve air quality.

If you have any questions please contact us at air.quality@defra.gsi.gov.uk

What happens next

After the closing date for responses a summary of views will be published alongside a government response on next steps.