82/459/EEC: Council Decision of 24 June 1982 establishing a reciprocal exchange of information and data from networks and individual stations measuring air pollution within the Member States

COUNCIL DECISION of 24 June 1982 establishing a reciprocal exchange of information and data from networks and individual stations measuring air pollution within the Member States (82/459/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),
Whereas the first and second action programmes of the European Communities on the environment (3) make provision for the establishment of a procedure for the exchange of information between surveillance and monitoring networks;
Whereas this procedure is necessary to combat pollution and nuisances, this being one of the Community objectives concerning the improvement of the quality of life and the harmonious development of economic activities throughout the Community ; whereas the specific powers necessary to this end are not provided by the Treaty;
Whereas by Council Decision 75/441/EEC (4) the Council established a common procedure for the exchange of information between the surveillance and monitoring networks based on data relating to atmospheric pollution by sulphur compounds and suspended particulates ; whereas this procedure, amongst other things, has served as a pilot study for the elaboration of a system to answer the specific needs of the Community;
Whereas the accumulated experience of the pilot study is employed to establish a more complete exchange of information and data incorporating additional air pollutants, thus stimulating and enhancing progress towards the harmonization of the measurement methods;
Whereas the Commission will examine, in consultation with Member States, the need for, and scope of, all intercomparison programmes to be proposed by it ; whereas such programmes may cover different equipment, methods of sampling and analysis as well as reference materials commonly used for the relevant pollutants so that the comparability of the data obtained by different stations and methods may be improved;
Whereas the use of homogeneous time-scales for the data collection and homogeneous presentation of results will facilitate the comparison of the levels recorded for each pollutant;
Whereas the exchange of the results of the pollution-level measurements provides one way of keeping abreast of long-term trends and improvements resulting from existing and future national or Community legislation;
Whereas such results constitute information relevant to determining the locations of epidemiological surveys destined to provide a better understanding of the harmful effects of air pollution on human health;
Whereas the transport of pollutants over long distances necessitates surveillance at regional, national, Community and global levels;  (1) OJ No C 125, 17.5.1982, p. 165. (2) OJ No C 64, 15.3.1982, p. 15. (3) OJ No C 112, 29.12.1973, p. 3 and OJ No C 139, 13.6.1977, p. 3. (4) OJ No L 194, 25.7.1975, p. 40.
Whereas certain information and data constitute an input to the Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) which is part of the United Nations Environmental Programme,