The Ministry of Environment and Water does not hide data on air cleanliness in cities

The statement made publicly by "For the Earth" that the location of the monitoring points of the National Air Quality Monitoring System does not meet the requirements of European and national legislation is categorically false and incorrect.

The monitoring points are set up in full accordance with the requirements specified in the Ordinance on standards for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, fine dust particles, lead, benzene, carbon monoxide and ozone in atmospheric air, which transposes into national legislation Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and the Council from May 21, 2008. on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (the Directive).

When determining the locations of the monitoring points, the specific conditions of the terrain provided by the respective municipality are taken into account, as well as the following factors that can be taken into account: requirements related to territorial planning, availability of electricity and telephone communications, security, the need for joint location of sampling points for various pollutants.

The data from the National System for Monitoring of Environmental Protection, administered by the Executive Agency for the Environment of the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW), is public and transmitted in real time to the European Environment Agency (EEA). The EEA annually reports to the EEA both data on the measured concentrations of the main indicators and basic data on the automatic measuring stations - location of the sites, classification of the points, geographical coordinates. To date, no comments and recommendations have been received regarding the classification and location of the points.

The determination of the levels of fine dust particles, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, ozone, benzene and lead in atmospheric air is carried out using reference measurement methods described in European and national legislation. EEA annually reports to EEA and data on the equipment used, methods and means of measurement, information on calibration procedures, etc. The quality of the measurements is ensured through the implementation of a Program for ensuring and controlling the quality of measurements of the levels of atmospheric pollutants, also developed in accordance with the requirements of the legislation.

The information presented so far unequivocally confirms that Bulgaria reports correct data to the European Commission. We specify that data obtained otherwise, by methods other than the reference method (including those used by "About the Earth", based on its own measurements), can be compared with data from this method only and only after proof of identity of the methods, subject to compliance with the requirements of the Guide for demonstrating the equivalence of methods for monitoring atmospheric air of the European Commission. In the absence of proof of identity, data obtained in any other way cannot be taken as reliable, including those referred to by "For the Earth".

We emphasize that according to the requirements of the European and national legislation, the location of the monitoring points is subject to periodic review, that is, the legislation allows that changes in circumstances are possible over time, which would require corrective actions.

Actually, after 2011, there is a process of improving air quality throughout the country. According to the latest data for 2023, the number of reported exceedances has decreased in all stations in the country, and the requirements defined in the legislation have been achieved in almost all monitoring points of the national system. In a large proportion of stations with unchanged locations, the reduction in pollution levels recorded was even greater. Given the achieved improvement in air quality, which is observed throughout the country, it cannot be claimed that this improvement in some settlements is due to the relocation of monitoring points. Questioning the way in which the state of atmospheric air is monitored at the national level is unfounded and disrespectful, including in relation to citizens.