site.btaEnvironment Minister: Air Monitoring Stations Measure According to European Standards, No Indicators Outside the Norm

Air quality stations measure according to European standards and it is impossible to manipulate the results as they are encrypted, caretaker Minister of Environment and Water Petar Dimitrov told bTV on Sunday morning. 

Air quality in Sofia and parts of the country has improved significantly over the years. We have no indicators that are outside the standards, he noted. 

Dimitrov explained that the stations are set on the basis of Ordinance 12 , environmental legislation and EU directives. They are placed in the designated locations based on a report prepared by a working group made up of representatives of the ministry, the Executive Environmental Agency, the relevant Regional Environmental Inspectorate and the municipality, which is based on the possibility and appropriate places where such facilities could be put, as they have specific requirements, he said. 

Minister Dimitrov said there are two facilities placed outside these parameters. He pointed out that one station was moved from Orlov Most because of the construction of the metro. He said a working group will be formed next year to move this station to a suitable location.

According to Dimitrov, 48 air quality measuring stations in the country are sufficient according to European requirements and standards.