Variation to the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure

made under section 20 of the

National Environment Protection Council Act 1994 (Cwlth), National Environment Protection Council (New South Wales) Act 1995 (NSW), National Environment Protection Council (Victoria) Act 1995 (Vic), National Environment Protection Council (Queensland) Act 1994 (Qld), National Environment Protection Council (Western Australia) Act 1996 (WA), National Environment Protection Council (South Australia) Act 1995 (SA), National Environment Protection Council (Tasmania) Act 1995 (Tas), National Environment Protection Council Act 1994 (ACT) and the National Environment Protection Council (Northern Territory) Act 1994 (NT)

Contents

Introductory Note

1 Citation

2 Purpose

Part 2 Variation

3 Purpose of Part

4 Variation to the Principal Measure

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Citation

 This Variation may be cited as the Variation to the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure for Particles as PM2.5.

Note:  This Variation commences on gazettal (see National Environment Protection Council Act 1994, s 21 and Acts Interpretation Act 1901, s 48 as applied by s 46A).

2 Purpose

 The purpose of this Variation is to vary the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure (the Principal Measure) to include Advisory Reporting Standards for particles as PM2.5 (hereafter referred to as PM2.5).

Part 2 Variation

3 Purpose of Part

 The purpose of this Part is to vary the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure to introduce Advisory Reporting Standards for PM2.5 and a protocol for monitoring and reporting of PM2.5.

 Establishing Advisory Reporting Standards and a protocol setting out monitoring and reporting requirements for PM2.5 will provide a tool for communicating information to the community on air quality related to PM2.5, and enable the effectiveness of air quality management programs that are designed to manage PM2.5 emissions to be assessed.

4 Variation to the Principal Measure

 (1) In Part 1, Clause 2 of the Principal Measure insert the following definitions –

 “Advisory Reporting Standard means a health-based standard to assess the results of monitoring for particles as PM2.5.  These standards do not have a timeframe for compliance associated with them;

 Continuous direct mass measurement technique means a method for continuously monitoring suspended particulate matter changes of particles in ambient air, providing near real time measurement of mean particle concentration;

 Manual gravimetric method means a manual method for sampling particles by drawing air through a filter and determining the mass by weighing the filters;

 Particles as PM2.5 means particulate matter with an equivalent aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less;

 Principal Measure means the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure;

 Reference method means the monitoring method used for collection of data that can be compared to the Advisory Reporting Standards;

 TEOM means tapered element oscillating microbalance;”.

 (2) In Clause 3 of the Principal Measure for the existing clause substitute –

  “Participating jurisdictions must:

   (a) for carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, photochemical oxidants (as ozone), sulfur dioxide, lead and particles as PM10 establish monitoring procedures and commence assessment and reporting in accordance with the Protocol in this Measure, within 3 years after its commencement;

   (b) for particles as PM2.5 undertake monitoring and reporting in accordance with Schedule 4 and Schedule 5 in this Measure.”.

 (3) In clause 6 of the Principal Measure, for the existing clause substitute -

  “The National Environment Protection Goal of this Measure is:

   (a) for carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, photochemical oxidants (as ozone), sulfur dioxide, lead and particles as PM10 to achieve the National Environment Protection Standards as assessed in accordance with the monitoring protocol (Part 4) within ten years from commencement to the extent specified in Schedule 2 column 5; and

   (b) for particles as PM2.5  to gather sufficient data to facilitate a review of the Advisory Reporting Standards as part of the review of this Measure scheduled to commence in 2005.”.

 (4) In clause 8 of the Principal Measure, for sub-clause (2) substitute -

  “(2) For:

   (a) each pollutant mentioned in table 1 of Schedule 2, the standard for an averaging period mentioned in the Schedule is the concentration in column 4 of table 1 of Schedule 2;

   (b) particles as PM2.5, the Advisory Reporting Standard for an averaging period mentioned in the Schedule is the concentration in column 3 of table 2 of Schedule 2.”.

 (5) In Schedule 2 to the Principal Measure -

 (a) for the heading “Standards and Goal” substitute “Table 1: Standards and Goal for Pollutants other than Particles as PM2.5”; and

 (b) after the table insert –

“Table 2: Advisory Reporting Standards and Goal for Particles as PM2.5

 (6) After Schedule 3 to the Principal Measure insert -

 “Schedule 4: Protocol for Monitoring PM2.5

Note: Clauses 11 to 18 of the Measure are not to be applied to PM2.5.  This Schedule sets out all applicable requirements for PM2.5.

 1. Location of monitoring for PM2.5

   Measurement and assessment of the concentration of PM2.5 in the air is to be undertaken at existing or planned performance monitoring stations specified for particles as PM10 under this Measure as selected by participating jurisdictions.

 2. Number of performance monitoring stations for PM2.5

  (1) Each participating jurisdiction will establish at least one monitoring location for PM2.5 and commence monitoring in accordance with the Table below.

   Dates for Commencement of PM2.5 Monitoring in Participating Jurisdictions

* These jurisdictions must commence monitoring on 1 July 2004 if resources are available and, if not, as soon as resources become available to ensure sufficient data are collected to inform the review of this Measure scheduled to commence in 2005.

  (2) Jurisdictions are encouraged to introduce monitoring for PM2.5 at as many performance monitoring stations for PM10 as practicable.  The extent of such monitoring may vary depending on the requirements and resources of the jurisdiction.

 3. Monitoring methods for PM2.5

  (1) The reference methods for monitoring particles as PM2.5 are reference, Class 1 and Class 2 equivalent manual gravimetric methods designated in the USEPA Federal Reference Method (USEPA reference method; US Code of Federal Regulations Title 40 Part 50 Appendix L Reference Method for the Determination of Fine Particulate Matter as PM2.5 in the Atmosphere).

  (2) Continuous direct mass methods using a tapered element oscillating microbalance may also be used in addition to the reference method, however the values obtained by using these methods cannot be used for comparison with the Advisory Reporting Standards until the outcomes of the PM2.5 Equivalence Program (Schedule 5) have been formally included in the Principal Measure.

  (3) To enable the development of equivalent methods for monitoring PM2.5 as part of the review of this Measure scheduled to commence in 2005, collocation of continuous direct mass monitors and reference samplers must be undertaken at a limited number of sites in accordance with Schedule 5.

  (4) Participating jurisdictions must reach agreement on the collocation of samplers to ensure that, nationally, a minimum of nine locations house collocated samplers and annual reporting to Council must include information on the collocation of samplers. 

 4. Evaluation of monitoring for PM2.5

  (1) Each participating jurisdiction must evaluate its monitoring results for PM2.5 in accordance with this clause.

  (2) For each PM2.5 performance monitoring station in the jurisdiction there must be:

   (a) a determination of the exposed population in the region or sub-region monitored by the station; and

   (b) a report on whether the PM2.5 Advisory Reporting Standards of this Measure, as measured by the reference method, have been met.

 5. Reporting

  (1) Each participating jurisdiction must submit a report on PM2.5 monitoring and data assessment in accordance with this clause to Council by the 30 June next following each reporting year.

  (2) In this clause “reporting year” means a year ending on 31 December.

  (3) The first report to Council will be for the 2003 reporting year for data currently being collected by jurisdictions.

  (4) The report must include:

   (a) an evaluation and assessment of all PM2.5 data collected by the reference method;

   (b) the evaluations and assessments outlined in clause 4 of this Schedule;

   (c) the number of times the monitored values (by the reference method) are greater than the Advisory Reporting Standards of this Measure;

   (d) all other PM2.5 data collected by other acceptable methods as outlined in this Schedule; and

   (e) the maximum 24-hour concentration of PM2.5 in each jurisdiction collected by any method specified in Schedule 4 of this Variation.

  (5) A description of the circumstances that led to monitored values (by the reference method) being greater than the Advisory Reporting Standards including the influence of natural events and fire management, must be reported to the extent that such information can be determined.

  (6) The report must include the percentage of data available in the reporting period.”.

 “Schedule 5: PM2.5 Equivalence Program

  (1) Jurisdictions must undertake monitoring with collocated instruments for the purpose of determining equivalent methods for monitoring PM2.5 in accordance with the Table in this Schedule and the requirements specified in the Technical Paper on Monitoring and Reporting for Particles as PM2.5.

  (2) At locations where reference method samplers are to be used, there is no requirement for equivalence studies to be undertaken, except where such locations have been designated as collocation sites.

  (3) If alternative PM2.5 monitoring methods are used, equivalence between the reference method and the alternative method must be demonstrated by collocation of samplers over a three-year period.

  (4) For jurisdictions undertaking equivalence monitoring, there must be at least one collocation site with a reference sampler run on a daily basis (preferred) or on a 1-in-3 day operation (minimum requirement).

  (5) Data availability must exceed 75% and it is recommended that higher data recovery be achieved during seasons with expected elevated particle loadings.

  (6) To ensure national consistency with regard to the collection of PM2.5 data, monitoring must be done in accordance with procedures specified in the Technical Paper on Monitoring and Reporting for Particles as PM2.5.

 Sites Proposed for the Equivalence Program