Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NTEPA)
The NorthernTerritory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) is calling for communityinput into proposed changes to key national air quality standards.
Environmental Operations director, PeterVasel, said the standards under review are for ozone (O3),nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2).
Australiasair quality has improved significantly over recent decades and is consideredgood by world standards, Mr Vasel said.
However, air pollutionremains an important environmental and human health issue.
Predictions for adrier, hotter climate, together with projected population increases, poseimportant challenges to Australias future air quality.
EPA Victoria has been leading the review of national ozone, nitrogendioxide and sulfur dioxide standards.
It is vital these are reviewed as we now know that the effects of airpollution on human health from these pollutants are observable at concentrationsbelow the current National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality)Measure, Mr Vasel said.
The NationalEnvironment Protection Council (NEPC) has signalled its intention to vary these standards to reflect the latestscience on the health risks from these air pollutants. Health risks fromexposure to these pollutants include effects on the respiratory and thecardiovascular system. Those most at risk of experiencing adverse effects arepeople with existing lung diseases (such as asthma), children and the elderly.
An ImpactStatement prepared by the NEPC presents options for tighter AAQ NEPM monitoringand reporting standards for these pollutants and is now available for publicconsultation. The proposed standards for nitrogen dioxide and sulfurdioxide would become significantly stricter, while the AAQ NEPM would include anew, eight-hour ozone standard.
The Impact Statement has been developedin consultation with the Commonwealth Government and all states andterritories. It is supported by a large body of work that pulls together airquality and health information, considers the feasibility of updating thestandards, and the costs and benefits of a range of potential abatementmeasures that could be introduced to lower concentrations for these pollutants.
The ImpactStatement provides an opportunity for all interested Territorians to review theevidence supporting the options for varying the AAQ NEPM standards and to givetheir views on the proposed strengthened standards, Mr Vasel said.
While the AAQNEPM itself does not compel or direct pollution control measures, it doesprovide strong guidelines on air quality standards for each jurisdiction.
The Impact Statement, supporting documents and link toupload written submissions before the 7 August 2019 deadline are available at www.nepc.gov.au/nepms/ambient-air-quality/proposed-variation/consultation-2019
