evatech

Safety Management Services
Nelson, New Zealand

Environment:

The Environment is protected from the adverse effects of the chemical industry by the interlocking powers of Local Body District plans, the RMA and HSNO Acts.

 

Evatech provides staff training in all three to ensure that companies have mechanisms and processes in place to protect the environment from accidents.

 

An important part of environmental protection is the provision of bunding or containment systems required under two separate pieces of legislation. The most significant of these is the Resource Management Act

Containment plans:

There are significant compliance requirements put on property owners by:

The Resource Management Act 1991(RMA) is the next most important piece of legislation relating to chemicals after the HSNO Act. It manages the location of facilities involving hazardous substance in relation to sensitive environments or conditions – for example: schools, hospitals, lakes or earthquake prone areas. City and District Councils can develop rules and methods to manage the location of hazardous facilities (that is, activities involving hazardous substances) in relation to land use zones.
The Act is notable for the adoption of the philosophy that our environment can be used for the benefit of communities and the nation, but not in such a way that permanent damage is done to the environment.
The purpose of the RMA is to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources. Key aspects of sustainable management are:

 

Unless specifically allowed to do so by a discharge permit or a “permitted activity” rule in a regional plan; no person may:

 

If the contaminant does not enter water, or is not from an industrial or trade premise, any person may discharge that contaminant to air or land unless a regional council specifically restricts the discharge in a regional plan.

 

A feature of the RMA is that each regional and district council can adopt rules that are appropriate for their region or district. This means that rules around the country may differ according to local environmental or community concerns. Only regional councils and unitary authorities can adopt rules about discharges to air. All rules are subject to the public process of submission and appeal. It is through the regional and district plans of these councils that the details for compliance are provided. Most Regional or District Councils have plans that include regional Rules about both aerial and land-based applications of agrichemicals.

 

Such rules typically require compliance with sections of the Code of Practice for the Management of Agrichemicals: NZS 8409.

 

Evatech has been involved in the development of the ‘Supplier’ segments of the Agrichemical Code of Practice: NZS 8409:2004.

Chemicals and waterways

Under the Resource Management Act, no person may discharge chemicals into water — whether a river, artificial watercourse, or coastal marine area — without a discharge permit, unless the regional council has specifically allowed the discharge in a permitted activity rule in a regional plan. Some councils have adopted rules allowing some chemicals to be discharged into water without permits, but the details should be checked with the relevant council.

Abatement notices

The Resource Management Act imposes a duty on every person to avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse effects on the environment. This duty applies regardless of whether the person is acting in accordance with a rule in a plan, a discharge permit, or regulations.
An enforcement officer of a regional or district council can issue an abatement notice to anyone who is doing something, or will do something, that is likely to damage the environment. Regulations that came into force on 1 February 2000, allow councils to impose instant fines ranging from $300 to $1000 depending on the seriousness of the offence.

 

Evatech can assist your Company through this tangle of environmental compliance demands.