WRITTEN QUESTION E-2249/99 by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission. Limit values for ammonia in the EU.
Date: 1999-12-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, stratospheric pollution

C 303 E/36

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

24.10.2000

(2000/C 303 E/033)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2249/99

by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 December 1999)

Subject: Limit values for ammonia in the EU

According to reports, the health of forests in central and eastern Europe is continuing to deteriorate.
Experts say that ozone is the main culprit. Ozone is produced when volatile organic compounds and
nitrogen oxides react with sunlight. Ozone is a powerful oxidising agent which can, however, react with
ammonia, a reducing agent, as a result of which the two chemicals are broken down into harmless
nitrogen gas and hydrogen. The European Environment Agency forecasts that there will be 30 % more
cars, 50 % more vans and lorries and 100 % more aircraft in the next decade. Scientists are of the opinion
that it is completely illogical to introduce limit values for ammonia in the EU as long as emissions of
volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides continue to increase.

Can the Commission confirm this?

Does it agree that ozone is a main cause of the deterioration in forest health?

Does it accept that ozone, if it reacts with ammonia, may be converted into nitrogen gas and hydrogen
and that the introduction of limit values for ammonia emissions in the EU might therefore hinder efforts
to prevent high ozone levels?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(7 January 2000)

In the analysis underpinning the proposal on a directive for national emission ceilings (NEC) (1), the
Commission has taken account of the predicted growth of transport. Technical progress, however, will
significantly reduce emissions from various sectors,
in particular from transport. The Commission
estimated the future effect on the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile hydrocarbons (VOC) of
implementing current legislation, including recently adopted directives on cleaner cars and fuels. By 2010
compared to 1990 levels, NOX and VOC emissions in the Community will fall by 48 % and 49 %,
respectively. Moreover, the NEC proposal requires further reduction of emissions of these pollutants to (cid:129)
55 % for NOX and (cid:129) 60 % for VOC with the aim of reducing ozone exposure to human health and
vegetation by up to 70 % during the next decade.

According to data from the European economic area (EEA) and the European monitoring and evaluation
of pollutants (EMEP) programme emissions of these substances have already fallen by 10 % between 1990
and 1995. In conclusion, the Commission expects significant emission reductions of NOX and VOC as a
result of its control strategies against acidification and ground-level ozone.

The Commission shares the concern that elevated ozone levels are a threat for forests and thus in its
proposal for a new daughter directive for ozone (1), set a long-term objective and a target value for ozone
for the protection of vegetation, including forests.

The Commission can confirm that ammonia can react with ozone. However, except in the immediate
surroundings of large sources, ammonia concentrations in the ambient air are quite low in comparison to
the mass of ozone filling the whole lower atmosphere. Given the relatively slow reaction rate between the
two, the total quantity of removed ozone by reaction with ammonia is insignificant. So, the Commission
cannot confirm that reducing ammonia emissions will result in rising ozone levels on a large scale.

Apart from a certain proportion of ammonia deposited in the vicinity of emission sources ammonia rather
reacts with nitrate and sulphate and forms substances (ammonium nitrate and sulphate) which, because of

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their longer life-time in the atmosphere, can be transported over long distances. The deposition of these
species leads to an excessive supply of nitrogen compounds (eutrophication) of soil and waters while
nitrate and sulphate compounds increase acidity. Both types of impact constitute a serious threat to
ecosystems and biodiversity to which ammonia emissions contribute. Therefore, tackling acidification and
eutrophication requires reducing emissions of ammonia. The Commission is convinced that this does not
conflict with the goal of reducing ozone pollution. On the contrary, the complex links between pollutants
and effects clearly require an integrated approach as brought forward in terms of effect based emission
ceilings for the four relevant pollutants.

(1) COM(9) 125 final, completed by SEC(1999) 2004.

(2000/C 303 E/034)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2251/99

by Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 December 1999)

Subject: The location of the Repsol Butano liquid petroleum gas tanks in Alumbres (Murcia (cid:129) Spain)

The population of Alumbres (Murcia) is extremely concerned by the construction of new liquid gas tanks
by the Repsol Butano company only a few metres from private housing; no alternative site in the entire
Escombreras valley region has been proposed.

Initially, the tanks were to be located 300 metres from the edge of the town. After various protests, they
were moved a further 150 metres away. The local population concerned, given the risk of explosions,
wants them at least 3 kilometres away, as an absolute minimum. The Alumbres area, furthermore, is the
site of no fewer than 14 of the 28 industries classified as harmful, toxic and dangerous in the Murcia
region.

Given that the local people neither enjoy any adequate safety guarantees, nor know what they are
supposed to do if there should be an industrial accident in this Cartagena local authority area, and bearing
in mind the somewhat insensitive response of the authorities, both at local and autonomous regional level,
namely approving measures which have yet to be complied with, I would ask:

1.

Is the Commission aware of the scheme to build these gas tanks?

2. Can the Commission state whether any Community funding has been granted to this project?

3. Does the Commission not believe that the appropriate authorities should draw up a special plan for

the prevention of chemical risks in the locality in question?

4. Can the Commission state whether an environmental impact assessment was submitted, pursuant to
Directive 85/337/EEC (1) on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the
environment?

5. Does the Commission not believe that there has been an infringement of the right of citizens to have
all environmental information at their disposal, as laid down in Directive 90/313/EEC (2) concerning
freedom of access to information in environmental matters?

6. Will the Commission seek information as to what measures the competent authorities envisage in
order to guarantee that the project in question is not going to have a serious environmental impact
nor in any way prejudice the quality of life of the people of Alumbres?

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.
(2) OJ L 158, 23.6.1990, p. 56.