A4-0483/98

Decision on common position (EC) No 57/98 adopted by the Council with a view to the adoption of a Council Directive relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air (10275/98 - C4-0540/98 - 97/0266(SYN)(Cooperation procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to common position (EC) No 57/98 of the Council, 10275/98 - C4-0540/98 - 97/0266(SYN) ((OJ C 360, 23.11.1998, p. 99.)),

- having regard to its opinion at first reading ((OJ C 167, 1.6.1998, p. 103.)) on the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(97)0500 ((OJ C 9, 14.1.1998, p. 6.)),

- having regard to the amended Commission proposal, COM(98)0386 ((OJ C 259, 18.8.1998, p. 10.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 189c of the EC Treaty,

- having regard to Rule 67 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection (A4-0483/98),

1. Amends the common position as follows;

2. Instructs its President to forward this decision to the Council and Commission.

(Amendment 1)

Article 2(15)

>Original text>

15. 'natural events¨ shall mean volcanic eruptions, seismic activities, wild-land fires, high-wind events or the atmospheric resuspension or transport of natural particles from dry regions;

>Text following EP vote>

15.

'natural events¨ shall mean volcanic eruptions, geothermal activities, wild-land fires, exceptional high-wind events or the atmospheric resuspension or transport of natural particles from dry regions;

(Amendment 2)

Article 3(3)

>Original text>

3. In order to assist the Commission in preparing the report provided for in Article 10, until 31 December 2003 Member States shall, where practicable, record data on concentrations of sulphur dioxide averaged over 10 minutes from certain measuring stations which they have selected as representative of air quality in inhabited areas close to sources and at which hourly concentrations are measured. At the same time as data are supplied on hourly concentrations in accordance with Article 11(1) of Directive 96/62/EC, Member States shall report to the Commission, for those selected measuring stations, the number of 10-minute concentrations which have exceeded 500 ug/m3, the number of days within the calendar year on which that occurred, the number of those days on which hourly concentrations of sulphur dioxide simultaneously exceeded 350 ug/m3 and the maximum 10-minute concentration recorded.

>Text following EP vote>

3.

In order to assist the Commission in preparing the report provided for in Article 10, until 31 December 2003 Member States shall record data on concentrations of sulphur dioxide averaged over 10 minutes from certain measuring stations which they have selected as representative of air quality in inhabited areas close to sources and at which hourly concentrations are measured. At the same time as data are supplied on hourly concentrations in accordance with Article 11(1) of Directive 96/62/EC, Member States shall report to the Commission, for those selected measuring stations, the number of 10-minute concentrations which have exceeded 500 ug/m3, the number of days within the calendar year on which that occurred, the number of those days on which hourly concentrations of sulphur dioxide simultaneously exceeded 350 ug/m3 and the maximum 10-minute concentration recorded.

(Amendment 3)

Article 8(1), 3rd subparagraph

>Original text>

Such information shall at least indicate any excesses of the concentrations in the limit values and alert thresholds over the averaging periods laid down in Annexes I to IV. It shall also provide a short assessment in relation to limit values and alert thresholds and appropriate information regarding effects on health.

>Text following EP vote>

Such information shall at least indicate any

exceedances of the concentrations and, wherever practicable, whether the pollution levels are above, below or equal to the limit values and alert thresholds over the averaging periods laid down in Annexes I to IV. It shall also provide a short assessment in relation to limit values and alert thresholds and appropriate information regarding effects on health.

(Amendment 4)

Article 8(2)

>Original text>

2. When making plans or programmes available to the public pursuant to Article 8(3) of Directive 96/62/EC, Member States shall also make them available to the organisations referred to in paragraph 1.

>Text following EP vote>

2.

When making plans or programmes available to the public pursuant to Article 8(3) of Directive 96/62/EC, including plans or programmes made for those zones or agglomerations designated by Member States under Articles 3(4) and 5(5) of this Directive, Member States shall also make them available to the organisations referred to in paragraph 1.

(Amendment 5)

Article 10, 3rd paragraph (new)

>Original text>

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission will give particular attention to setting alert thresholds, consistent with other pollutants in this Directive, for PM10, PM2,5 or particular fractions of particulate matter, as appropriate.

(Amendment 6)

Annex I (I), table (1)

>Original text>

Common Position

>TABLE>

>Original text>

(*)The date will be the first or second 1 January after the entry into force of this Directive.

>Original text>

Amendment

>TABLE>

>Original text>

(*)The date will be the first or second 1 January after the date of implementation of this Directive

(Amendment 7)

Annex I (I), table (3)

>Original text>

Common Position

>TABLE>

>Original text>

Amendment

>TABLE>

(Amendment 9)

Annex II (I), table (1)

>Original text>

Common Position

>TABLE>

>Original text>

(*)The date will be the first or second 1 January after the entry into force of this Directive.

>Original text>

Amendment

>TABLE>

>Original text>

(*)The date will be the first or second 1 January after the date of implementation of this Directive.

(Amendment 10)

Annex III, Stage 1

>Original text>

Common Position

>TABLE>

>Original text>

(*)The date will be the first or second 1 January after the entry into force of this Directive.

>Original text>

Amendment

>TABLE>

>Original text>

(*)The date will be the first or second 1 January after the date of implementation of this Directive.

(Amendment 11)

Annex III, Stage 2, footnote

>Original text>

(1) Indicative limit values to be reviewed in the light of further information on health and environmental effects, technical feasibility and experience in the application of Stage 1 limit values in the Member States.

>Text following EP vote>

(1)

Limit values to be reviewed in the light of further information on health and environmental effects, technical feasibility and experience in the application of Stage 1 limit values in the Member States.

(Amendment 8)

Annex IV, footnote (*)

>Original text>

(*) The date will be the first or second 1 January after the entry into force of this Directive.

>Text following EP vote>

(*)

The date will be the first or second 1 January after the date of implementation of this Directive.