National Environmental Protection Measure (NEPM)

Is Federal legislation which sets nationally agreed goals and standards for protection of nominated parts of the environment. Most environmental legislation is set by state or territory governments. However, for some parts of the environment, agreement on standards has been reached between the state and territory governments, and is reflected in a NEPM.

Pollutant

Averaging period

Maximum (ambient) concentration

Goal within 10 years (maximum allowable exceedences)

Carbon monoxide

8 hours

9.0 ppm

1 day a year

Nitrogen dioxide

1 hour

0.12 ppm

1 day a year

1 year

0.03 ppm

none

Photochemical oxidants (as ozone)

1 hour

0.10 ppm

1 day a year

4 hours

0.08 ppm

1 day a year

Sulfur dioxide

1 hour

0.20 ppm

1 day a year

1 day

0.08 ppm

1 day a year

1 year

0.02 ppm

none

Lead

1 year

0.50 µg/m3

none

Particles as PM10

1 day

50 µg/m3

5 days a year

The PM2.5 Variation to the Air NEPM sets the following advisory reporting standards and goal for particles as PM2.5.

Pollutant

Averaging period

Maximum (ambient) concentration

Goal

Particles as PM2.5

1 day
1 year

25 µg/m3
8 µg/m3

Goal is to gather sufficient data nationally to facilitate a review of the standard as part of the review of this Measure scheduled to commence in 2005.

For more information on the Air NEPM, see the factsheet on National Standards for Criteria Air Pollutants in Australia

Please click on the following link to view the status of the National Clean Air Plan:

http://www.scew.gov.au/coag-strategic-priorities/national-plan-clean-air