2004/224/EC: Commission Decision of 20 February 2004 laying down arrangements for the submission of information on plans or programmes required under Council Directive 96/62/EC in relation to limit values for certain pollutants in ambient air (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2004) 491)
Date: 2004-02-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: atmospheric pollutant, environmental protection, exchange of information, pollution control

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COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 20 February 2004

laying down arrangements for the submission of information on plans or programmes required
under Council Directive 96/62/EC in relation to limit values for certain pollutants in ambient air

(notified under document number C(2004) 491)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2004/224/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 96/62/EC of 27 September
1996 on ambient air quality assessment and management (1),
and in particular Article 12(1) thereof,

Commission should be harmonised and structured in
accordance with the detailed arrangements laid down in
the present Decision.

(4)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in
accordance with the opinion of the Committee estab-
lished by Article 12 of Directive 96/62/EC,

Whereas:

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

(1)

Pursuant to Article 8(3) of Directive 96/62/EC, plans or
programmes for attaining the limit values established by
Council Directive 1999/30/EC of 22 April 1999 relating
to limit values for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and
oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in
ambient air (2) and by Directive 2000/69/EC of the Euro-
pean Parliament and of the Council of 16 November
2000 relating to limit values for benzene and carbon
monoxide in ambient air (3) must be prepared in the
Member States for
those zones and agglomerations
where the limit values plus the margin of tolerance are
exceeded. Those plans and programmes must include at
least the information listed in Annex IV to Directive 96/
62/EC. The Commission must regularly check the imple-
mentation of those plans and programmes.

(2)

Article 11 of Directive 96/62/EC requires Member States
to submit their plans and programmes to the Commis-
sion annually.

(3) While the plans and programmes would be drafted
according to the specific administrative requirements in
each Member State, the information submitted to the

Article 1

When submitting the information on the plans or programmes
referred to in Article 8(3) of Directive 96/62/EC, as required by
Article 11(1)(a)(iii)
thereof, with regard to the limit values
established by Directives 1999/30/EC and 2000/69/EC,
Member States shall present that information in accordance
with the structure set out in the Annex to this Decision.

The full plans and programmes shall be made available to the
Commission on request.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 2

Done at Brussels, 20 February 2004.

For the Commission

Margot WALLSTRÖM

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 296, 21.11.1996, p. 55. Directive as amended by Regulation
(EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council
(OJ L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1).

(2) OJ L 163, 29.6.1999, p. 41. Directive as amended by Commission

Decision 2001/744/EC (OJ L 278, 23.10.2001, p. 35).

(3) OJ L 313, 13.12.2000, p. 12.

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ANNEX

INTRODUCTION

The report to the Commission shall be given in the seven forms specified below. For each plan or programme a full set
of forms has to be filled in. Form 1 sets out general information on the plan or programme concerned. In forms 2 to 6,
each column describes an exceedance situation addressed by the plan or programme. An exceedance situation is defined
by an exceedance area and the limit value (LV) plus the margin of tolerance (LV+MOT) that has been exceeded in that
area. An exceedance area is a location or a collection of locations where the levels have been found to exceed an
LV+MOT in the reference year. The reference year is the year in which the exceedance occurred that, following Article 8
of Directive 96/62/EC, gave rise to the obligation to prepare or implement the PP. Each row in forms 2 to 6 contains a
descriptive element for the exceedance situation.

An exceedance area may be a composite of several locations where exceedance of the LV+MOT has been found in the
reference year, provided that certain descriptive elements of these locations are comparable or identical. These descrip-
tive elements are indicated in forms 2 to 6 by a merging code that is specified in box 1. For the descriptive elements
that are allowed to be different for the locations, other codes are given in box 1; these codes specify how the different
elements are to be aggregated.

Summary descriptions of individual measures are given in form 7.

Specification of how locations where the levels have been found to exceed an LV+MOT can be merged into a
single exceedance situation: merging codes, which are given for each entry in the forms below

BOX 1

Merging code

Meaning of merging code

N.A.

Not applicable

S

L

LS

R

T

This entry should be a single description (not a list, range or total), that applies to all locations that
have been merged

If merged, the entry shall be a list (1) of all entries of the locations

If merged, the entry shall be a list (1) of all entries of the locations or a single description

If merged, the entry shall be the range of the entries of the different locations: minimum value —
maximum value

If merged, the entry shall be the summed total of all entries of the locations

(1) All lists shall have the same sequence of locations. Entries for separate locations shall be separated by a double slash ‘//’.

FORM 1

General information on the plan or programme

a. Reference year

b. Member State

c. Reference to the plan or programme

d. List of the code numbers of the exceedance situations described in forms 2 to 6

e. Name of the authority responsible for drafting the plan or programme addressing the exceedance

situation

f. Postal address of the responsible authority

g. Name of the contact person

h. Postal address of the contact person

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

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i. Telephone number of the contact person

j. Fax number of the contact person

k. E-mail address of the contact person

l. Comments for clarification if needed

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

Notes to Form 1:
1. Sub b: The Member State shall be indicated using the following codes: Austria: AT; Belgium: BE; Denmark: DK; Finland: FI; France: FR;
Germany: DE; Greece: EL; Ireland: IE; Italy: IT; Luxembourg: LU; Netherlands: NL; Portugal: PT; Spain: ES; Sweden: SE; United
Kingdom: UK.

2. Sub c: The reference to the plan or programme shall be a complete and detailed reference to the document(s) in which the plan or

programme is fully described. In addition, a web address may be given.

3. Sub g: The contact person is the person that the Commission must approach if it requires further information on any aspect of this

reporting sheet.

FORM 2

Description of the exceedance of the limit value

Code number of the exceedance situation

N.A.

a.

b.

Pollutant

c. Zone code

d. Name of the city(-ies) or municipality(-ies)

e.

To be filled in only if the pollutant is SO2, NO2 or PM10: limit value for which the LV+MOT
was exceeded [h/d/a]

f.

Concentration level in the reference year:

— Concentration in µg/m3 if applicable,

or

— Maximum 8-hour mean CO concentration in mg/m3 if applicable,

or

— Total number of exceedances expressed in relation to the LV+MOT if applicable

g.

To be filled in only if the LV is expressed as number of exceedances of a numerical concentra-
tion: total number of exceedances in the reference year expressed in relation to the LV

h. Concentration level in the reference year expressed in relation to the other health related LV of

the pollutant concerned, if such an LV exists:

— Concentration in µg/m3 if applicable,

or

— Total number of exceedances expressed in relation to the LV if applicable

i.

Concentrations observed in previous years if available and not previously communicated to the
Commission

— Year and concentration in µg/m3 if applicable,

or

— Year and maximum 8-hour mean CO concentration in mg/m3 if applicable,

or

— Year and total number of exceedances expressed in relation to the LV+MOT if applicable

j.

If the exceedance was found by measurement:

— Code of the station where the exceedance was observed

— Geographical coordinates of the station

— Classification of the station

S

L

L

S

R

R

R

R

R

R

L

L

L

L

L

S

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k.

If the exceedance was found by model calculation:

— Indication of the location of the exceedance area

— Classification of the area

l.

Estimate of the surface area (km2) where the level was above the LV in the reference year

m. Estimate of the length of road (km) where the level was above the LV in the reference year

n.

Estimate of the total population exposed to a level above the LV in the reference year

o. Comments for clarification if needed

Notes to Form 2:

LS

S

T

T

T

N.A.

1. Sub a: Each exceedance situation shall be given a code number that is unique within the Member State.
2. Sub b: The pollutant shall be indicated by ‘SO2’, ‘NO2’, ‘PM10’, ‘Pb’ for lead, ‘C6H6’ for benzene and ‘CO’.
3. Sub c: The zone code shall be identical to the one submitted in the annual questionnaire 2001/839/EC of the reference year.
4. Sub D: If the exceedance area extends over more than one city or municipality, all cities and municipalities where exceedance was

found shall be mentioned, separated by a semicolon.

5. Sub e: The limit value for which the LV+MOT was exceeded shall be identified as ‘h’ (based on hourly means), ‘d’ (daily means) or ‘a’

(annual means).

6. Sub f and h: If the exceedance has been found by modelling, the highest level in the exceedance area shall be given in this and the

following forms.

7. Sub i: The information should be given in the form ‘year: concentration’. Entries for several years should be separated by a semi-

colon. Non-availability of data shall be indicated by ‘n.a.’, earlier communication by ‘com.’.

8. Sub j:

‘Code of the station where the exceedance was observed’ shall be the code that has been used in the annual questionnaire of

the reference year (Commission Decision 2001/839/EC).

9. Sub j: For ‘geographical coordinates of the station’ and ‘classification of the station’, the specifications that are already in use for the

exchange of data under the exchange of information Decision 97/101/EC shall be used.

10. Sub k: The codes for ‘classification of station’ shall also be used for ‘classification of the area’. If the exceedance area found by model-

ling includes more than one class, the class codes shall be given, separated by a semicolon.

11. Sub l and m: The ‘surface area (km2) above the LV’ indicates the size of the exceedance area concerned. It may be left blank for
traffic stations or traffic areas. The ‘length of road (km) where the level was above the LV’ shall only be given for exceedances at
traffic stations or, in case of modelling, traffic areas. It indicates the total length of road sections where exceedance occurred on one
or both sides.

12. Sub n:

‘Population exposure above the LV’ indicates an estimate of the average number of people present during the exceedance of

the limit value.

FORM 3

Analysis of the causes of exceedance of the limit value in the reference year

a.

b.

Code number of the exceedance situation

Estimate of the regional background level

— Annual mean concentration in µg/m3 if applicable,

or

— Maximum 8-hour mean CO concentration in mg/m3 if applicable,

or

— Total number of exceedances expressed in relation to the LV if applicable

c.

Estimate of the total background level

— Annual mean concentration in µg/m3 if applicable,

or

— Maximum 8-hour mean CO concentration in mg/m3 if applicable,

or

— Total number of exceedances expressed in relation to the LV if applicable

d.

Indication of the contribution of local sources to exceedances of the limit value:

— Traffic

— Industry including heat and power production

N.A.

R

R

R

R

R

R

S

S

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— Agriculture

— Commercial and residential sources

— Natural sources

— Other

e.

f.

g.

Reference to the emission inventory used in the course of the analysis

If exceptional: indication of local climatology

If exceptional: indication of local topography

h. Comments for clarification if needed

S

S

S

S

N.A.

S

S

N.A.

Notes to Form 3:
1. Sub b and c: The background level is the concentration of pollutants on a larger scale than the exceedance area. The regional back-
ground level is the level that is estimated to occur in the absence of sources within a distance of the order of 30 km. For locations in
a city, this would be the background level in the absence of the city. For exceedance due to long-range transport of air pollution, the
regional background can be equal to the exceedance reported in form 2. The total background is the level that is estimated to occur in
the absence of local sources (with high chimneys within about 5 km and low sources within roughly 0,3 km — this distance could
be smaller, e.g. for residential heating, or larger, e.g. for steel mills). The total background level includes the regional background level.
In a city, the total background is the urban background, i.e. the level that would occur in the absence of significant sources in the
immediate vicinity. In a rural area, the total background level is about equal to the regional background level.

2. Sub d: The contributions of the local sources shall be expressed as a sequential number, using ‘1’ for the largest contributor, ‘2’ for the

second largest contributor etc. Sources that do not contribute significantly shall be indicated by ‘-’.

3. Sub d: If the contribution of ‘other’ sources has been indicated as significant, the source type(s) shall be clarified at the entry

‘Comments for clarification’.

4. Sub f: Exceptional local climatology shall be indicated by ‘+’.
5. Sub g: Exceptions local topography shall be indicated by ‘+’.

a.

b.

FORM 4

Baseline level

Code number of the exceedance situation

N.A.

Short description of the emission scenario used for the baseline analysis:

— Sources contributing to the regional background level

— Regional sources contributing to the total background level but not to the regional back-

ground level

— Local sources as far as relevant

c.

Expected levels in the first year in which the limit value has to be met:

— Regional background baseline level:

Annual mean concentration in µg/m3 if applicable,
or

Maximum 8-hour mean CO concentration in mg/m3 if applicable,
or

Total number of exceedances expressed in relation to the LV if applicable

— Total background baseline level:

Annual mean concentration in µg/m3 if applicable,
or

Maximum 8-hour mean CO concentration in mg/m3 if applicable,
or

Total number of exceedances expressed in relation to the LV if applicable

S

S

S

R

R

R

R

R

R

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— Baseline level at location of exceedance:

Annual mean concentration in µg/m3 if applicable,
or

Maximum 8-hour mean CO concentration in mg/m3 if applicable,
or

Total number of exceedances expressed in relation to the LV if applicable

d. Are any measures beyond those resulting from existing legislation needed to ensure that the

limit value will be met by the compliance date? [y/n]

e.

Comments for clarification if needed

R

R

R

S

N.A.

Notes to Form 4:
1. Form 4 shall be filled in for the limit value(s) whose LV+MOT has been exceeded.
2. The baseline level is the concentration to be expected in the year when the limit value comes into force without any measures beyond

those already agreed or implied by existing legislation.

FORM 5

Details of measures beyond those already required by existing legislation

a. Code number of the exceedance situation

b. Code(s) of the measure(s)

c. Planned timetable of implementation

d. Indicator(s) for monitoring the progress

e. Funding allocated (years; amount in EUR)

f. Estimated total costs (amount in EUR)

g. Estimated level in the years when the limit value has to be met, taking the additional measures

into account

h. Comments for clarification if needed

N.A.

S

L

S

T

T

R

N.A.

Note to Form 5:
1. Form 5 is to be completed only if the analysis required by form 4 shows that it is not expected that the limit values will be attained

by measures already required by existing legislation.

2. Sub b: Each measure must be indicated by a code, which refers to a measure described in form 7.
3. Sub c: Keywords on the various implementation steps must be given followed by a date or period in the form ‘mm/yy’. Entries must

be separated by a semicolon.

4. Sub e and f: The funding allocated refers to public funds alone; the estimated total costs include also the costs borne by the sector(s)

affected.

Possible measures that have not yet been taken and long-term measures (optional)

FORM 6

a.

Code number of the exceedance situation

b. Code(s) of the possible measure(s) that have not yet been taken

c.

For measures that have not been taken:

administrative level at which the measure could be taken

reason for not taking the measure

N.A.

LS

LS

LS

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d. Code(s) of the long-term measure(s)

e.

Comments for clarification if needed

LS

N.A.

Notes to Form 6:
1. Sub b and d: Each measure must be indicated by a code, which refers to a measure described in form 7. If more than one measure is

indicated, the codes must be separated by a semicolon.

2. Sub c: The following codes are to be used to characterise the administrative level at which the measure could be taken: A: local; B:
regional; C: national; D: European Union; E: international beyond European Union. If more than one level is appropriate, the codes
must be separated by a semicolon.

FORM 7

Summary of measures

a. Code of the measure

b. Title

c. Description

d. Administrative level at which the measure could be taken

e. Type of measure

f. Is the measure regulatory? [y/n]

g. Time scale of reduction

h. Source sector(s) affected

i. Spatial scale of the sources affected

j. Comments for clarification if needed

Notes to Form 7:

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

LS

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

1. Form 7 is to be used to describe the measures mentioned in forms 5 or 6. One column of Form 7 must be completed for each

measure.

2. Sub a: Each measure must be given a unique code.
3. Sub c: The description of the measure is a free text of typically 100 to 200 words.
4. Sub d: The following codes must be used to characterise the administrative level at which the measure could be taken: A: local; B:

regional; C: national.

5. Sub e: The following codes must be used to characterise the type of measure: A: economic/fiscal; B: technical; C: education/informa-

tion; D: other.

6. Sub g: The following codes must be used to characterise the time scale of the concentration reduction achieved by the measure: A:

short term; B: medium term (about a year); C: long term.

7. Sub h: The following codes must be used to characterise the source sector affected by the measure: A: transport; B:

industry

including heat and power production; C: agriculture; D: commercial and residential sources; E: other.
8. Sub e and h: If the code for ‘other’ is used, it must be clarified at the entry ‘Comments for clarification’.
9. Sub i: The following codes must be used to characterise the spatial scale of the sources affected by the measure:

10. Sub d-i: If more than one code applies, they must be separated by a semicolon.