Victoria has just adopted the nation’s toughest standards on ambient air quality for ozone and sulfur dioxide.
The state’s new Environment Reference Standard (ERS) for three typical pollutants – ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide - meets newly upgraded national standards and tightens the requirements for two of them even further.
EPA Chief Executive Officer Lee Miezis says EPA played the lead role in developing the new nationwide standards and has applied even tighter standards at the state level.
“Victoria has tightened standards for three typical pollutants in keeping with new national standards and applied even stricter standards for ozone and sulfur dioxide, in consideration of our growing overall population and especially people aged 65 and over,” Mr Miezis said.
“By strengthening Victoria’s standards, we will further improve air quality and public health protection, especially for sensitive groups including older Victorians,” he said.
The new ambient air quality standards follow a national review led by Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA), based on the latest health evidence.
Following the national review conducted in 2021, the National Environment Protection Council agreed to strengthening standards in the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure (AAQ NEPM).
EPA Victoria will use the improved reference standards when it assesses and reports on environmental conditions. While the new standards are not compliance standards required of individual businesses, they inform decisions by EPA and other government authorities.
The new standards also apply to decision making by the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate and municipal councils and are used by environmental auditors and proponents of major public projects.
The new stricter ozone and sulfur dioxide standards in Victoria are in addition to the stricter standard for PM10 particles that Victoria has already adopted.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Victorian Authorities that use the Environment Reference Standards: epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/laws/epa-tools-and-powers/environment-reference-standard/authorities
How the standard is applied: epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/laws/epa-tools-and-powers/environment-reference-standard/applying-the-standard
The detail of the standard: epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/laws/epa-tools-and-powers/environment-reference-standard
How EPA led the national review of air quality standards: epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/environmental-information/air-quality/nepm-standards-review
The state’s new Environment Reference Standard (ERS) for three typical pollutants – ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide - meets newly upgraded national standards and tightens the requirements for two of them even further.
EPA Chief Executive Officer Lee Miezis says EPA played the lead role in developing the new nationwide standards and has applied even tighter standards at the state level.
“Victoria has tightened standards for three typical pollutants in keeping with new national standards and applied even stricter standards for ozone and sulfur dioxide, in consideration of our growing overall population and especially people aged 65 and over,” Mr Miezis said.
“By strengthening Victoria’s standards, we will further improve air quality and public health protection, especially for sensitive groups including older Victorians,” he said.
The new ambient air quality standards follow a national review led by Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA), based on the latest health evidence.
Following the national review conducted in 2021, the National Environment Protection Council agreed to strengthening standards in the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure (AAQ NEPM).
EPA Victoria will use the improved reference standards when it assesses and reports on environmental conditions. While the new standards are not compliance standards required of individual businesses, they inform decisions by EPA and other government authorities.
The new standards also apply to decision making by the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate and municipal councils and are used by environmental auditors and proponents of major public projects.
The new stricter ozone and sulfur dioxide standards in Victoria are in addition to the stricter standard for PM10 particles that Victoria has already adopted.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Victorian Authorities that use the Environment Reference Standards: epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/laws/epa-tools-and-powers/environment-reference-standard/authorities
How the standard is applied: epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/laws/epa-tools-and-powers/environment-reference-standard/applying-the-standard
The detail of the standard: epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/laws/epa-tools-and-powers/environment-reference-standard
How EPA led the national review of air quality standards: epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/environmental-information/air-quality/nepm-standards-review
Reviewed 31 March 2022
