§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action has been taken to monitor dust emissions from HGVs using Shoreham Harbour on port related business. [43705]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 15 March 2002]: Local authorities have a duty under part IV of the Environment Act 1995 to assess air quality against objectives set out in the Air Quality Regulations 2000, including an objective in respect of particulate matter (PM10). If the air quality objectives are likely to be exceeded by relevant deadline in areas where the public are likely to be exposed, then local authorities have to declare an air quality management area.
Adur District Council has produced a stage III local air quality management review and assessment report. This report refers to the fugitive dust emissions from Shoreham Harbour, and is available from the Housing and Environmental Services Department at Adur District Council.
An air quality modelling exercise was carried out that indicates that concentrations of PM10 from these fugitive dust sources is unlikely to exceed either the annual mean or 24-hour mean air quality objectives at locations where 271W the public are likely to be exposed. The modelling results have been compared to a limited period of monitoring in the Port area. The local authority's report states that it was not possible to undertake extensive monitoring of PM10 in the area of the Port. In September 2000 a cascade impactor was installed for four weeks. The overall conclusion of the report was that no exceedence of the PM10 objective would occur within Adur's District Council boundaries, and this conclusion has been accepted
Local authorities will be required to produce a further review and assessment report in the second phase of local air quality management by end of 2003.