Air Quality
Review and Assessment of Air Quality for the Dover
District
Introduction
In response to the requirements of Part IV of the Environment
Act 1995, the UK Government has published a National Air Quality
Strategy. The overall aim of this Strategy is to meet a series of
Air Quality Objectives by the year 2005).
Air Quality Strategy
The Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and N
Ireland can be viewed on the
Defra website
The Council has now completed stages 1-4 of the review
Stage 3
Stage 4 - 'Sulphur emissions from Shipping'
Following on from the Stage 3 report Dover District Council is
pleased to have produced the Stage 4 report which looks in greater
detail at the emissions from shipping activities in and around the
Port of Dover. The report confirms the Council's decision to
declare an Air Quality Management Area around the port area and as
a result of increased monitoring of sulphur dioxide episodes can be
more confident in the original findings.
The report goes some way to calculate more accurately how much
of an improvement in air quality would be needed to deliver air
quality objectives within the AQMA, and acknowledges the Dover
Harbour Authority's Master Plan Phase 1 report (August 2003).
Discussions continue at the European Commission to amend
Directive 1999/32 which involves capping the sulphur limit of
marine fuels, which, if implemented, will reduce significantly the
impact of emissions from seagoing ships on local air quality and
acidification. The report has received favourable comments from
stakeholders involved in this decision making process and this
Authority is pleased to have been involved in discussions over
issues relating to formulating the legislation and abatement
technology on the ships themselves.
Contact
Tel: 01304 872428
E-mail: envhealth@dover.gov.uk
