Ambient air quality: limit values for sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead

1997/0266(SYN)
The Commission's amended proposal takes over totally or partly 19 of the 28 amendments adopted by Parliament at first reading. The amendments introduced by the Commission have the following effects: - setting of an alert threshold for NO2, based on a threshold for effects in sensitive subjects; - clarification of provisions requiring up-to-date information to be easily available to the public; - clarification on where ecosystem and vegetation limit values will apply; - simplification and strengthening of requirements relating to the measurement of pollution; - adaptation of measurement requirements to the situation of small islands, particularly those whose populations fluctuate because of tourism; - statement of the Commission's intention to submit revised proposals if necessary when it reports to Parliament and the Council in 2003 on implementation of the proposal for a directive; - statement of the importance of research on air pollution as a basis for any such revised proposals. The Commission was unable to accept the amendments seeking to: - define an alert threshold for PM10; - specify the methods by which information should be sent to NGOs; - delete the public information indicators; - call on the Commission to encourage research on air pollution; - make the limit value for SO2 markedly more stringent. �