Under the Environment Act 1995 the National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS) has been published. It sets new objective standards, to be met by 2005, for each of the following pollutants:

The NAQS also recognises that whilst air pollution will improve in the coming years it is unlikely to achieve the Governments objective for all pollutants and in all locations. To bridge this gap therefore new duties have been placed on local authorities, which include:

• Reviewing and assessing air quality, against the standards and objectives of the Air Quality Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/3043), within the local authority's geographical area for both 1995 and 2005

• Designating Air Quality Management Areas where the National Air Quality Strategy objectives are unlikely to be met by 2005

Part of this process includes consultation with adjoining local authorities, as well as other agencies and stakeholders. The timescale for undertaking this process is two years, following the introduction of the Air Quality Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/ 3043) and the bringing into force of sections 82 - 86 of the Environment Act 1995.

Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972 enables the Local Air Quality Management functions to be undertaken jointly by two or more neighbouring authorities who wish to co-operate together.

The LAQM process is designed to ensure that local government contributes to the Government's air quality objectives as set out in UK National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS). The purpose of the Review and Assessment, which forms part of the overall process is to:

• Review current air quality for local authority area;

• Assess the current air quality against the NAQS objectives;

• Assess the air quality predicted for 2005 against the NAQS objectives.

The Review and Assessment has three stages, although it is only Stage 1 that must be undertaken by all local authorities. The next stage is to be undertaken only if Stage 1 indicates a potential for elevated levels of air pollution. Similarly Stage 3 is only to be undertaken when informed by Stage 2. The Air Quality Regulations 1997 set down the air quality objectives for the 7 pollutants identified in the NAQS until the end of 2005. (Note - the only pollutant excepted from those listed in the NAQS is ozone.)

The timetabling for the first Review and Assessment of the LAQM process is such that the Goverment expects it to be completed by the end of 1999, with Stage 1 copleted by the end of 1998.

The guidance for LAQM provided to all local authorities to date, includes the following:

• Environment Circular 15/97 Part IV the Environment Act 1995 Local Air Quality Management - provides introduction to local air quality management