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EPA Fortnightly Update – Hon Eugenie Sage, Associate Minister for the Environment
For the week starting 19 August 2019
Upcoming officials meeting
No meeting this fortnight
Upcoming Issues
RMA Enforcement Unit to support Regional Council with inspections of high risk farms
The RMA Enforcement Unit is preparing to support a Regional Council with inspections of high risk dairy farms. The inspections are being planned for the end of August 2019.
Special permits for Kigali (hydrofluorocarbons)
The EPA’s proposed decision on special permits for hydrofluorocarbons for 2020 will be released this week. Special permits are an annual process to allocate 20% of the new bulk hydrofluorocarbons New Zealand is able to import under the limit set in the Ozone Layer Protection Regulations 1996. Fourteen applications were received, requesting 1,178,215.5768 carbon dioxide equivalent tonnes. For 2020, there is 267,660.0000 carbon dioxide equivalent tonnes.
Applicants will have 15 working days to provide submissions, before a final decision is made late September.
Petitions requesting a ban on the retail sale of fireworks
The Chair of Parliament’s Governance and Administration Committee (Dr Jian Yang MP) wrote to the Authority on 2 August inviting the EPA to submit on the petitions. We replied noting that the rules on retail sale are in Hazardous Substances (Fireworks) Regulations 2001 and that the process for changing the regulations is in section 141 of HSNO. Under this process the EPA would, when requested to by the Minister, consult with interested people on the proposed change and then provide advice and comments to the Minister on the results of the consultation and the proposal. Following this, the regulations are made by Order in Council on the recommendation of the Minister. Given this process the Authority noted that it be premature for the Authority to have a position on policy prior to the section 141 consultation.
Title: Application received for non-notified exploration drilling and discharge activity
On 9 August 2019, the EPA received an application from OMV Great South Basin (GSB) Ltd to carry out exploration drilling and associated discharges in its petroleum exploration permit in the GSB. The application is non-notified and
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will be determined by a Decision-making Committee (DMC) appointed by the EPA. The DMC has 70 working days from the date of lodgement to make a decision on the application.
Issues in the Media
OMV hearing coverage
Media coverage during the Dunedin OMV hearing in the Otago Daily Times, on Stuff, RNZ and other news media, focussed on submitters keen to expand the topics examined to include climate change, which was outside of the legal scope of the EPA process. Environment Minister David Parker was reported in the ODT as saying that while climate change was on the table as part of a review of the Resource Management Act, there were no plans for review of the law relating to consents in the EEZ at this stage.
ODT article: https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/no-plan-change-eez-rules
Gene editing
In the lead-up to the report by the Royal Society Te Apārangi, The Prime Minister's chief science adviser Professor Juliet Gerrard said the country's legal frameworks are struggling to cope with new technologies. On 12 August a panel convened by the Royal Society Te Apārangi released a report saying the time has come for change.
Environment Minister David Parker said although New Zealand takes a precautionary approach advancements in gene editing are not prohibited and there are already instances where the EPA has approved the use of modified organisms.
Article: https://www.stuff.co.nz/science/114928563/new-zealand-needs-to-consider-allowing-gene-editing- technology-to-eradicate-pests-scientists-say
Industry emissions
Climate change policy and the Emissions Trading Scheme topped the list of farmers’ biggest concerns for the first time since 2010, according to a Federated Farmers Survey reported on RNZ.
Article: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/396506/climate-policy-impact-biggest-concern-federated-farmers-survey
Fireworks ban debate
The Government was called upon to ban the private use of fireworks after ACC figures showed they caused nearly 4000 injuries over the past decade. The data, released to Auckland councillor Dr Cathy Casey, showed the claims cost ACC $3.3 million. "It is horrifying that so many people have been injured by fireworks because of Government inaction," said Dr Casey. However Auckland Chinese Community Centre chairperson Kai Luey said fireworks have given people great joy.
Article: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/08/chinese-community-against-fireworks-ban.html
Hi-Cane use in Northland
TV3 reporter Mitch McCann presented a story on 31 July for Newshub's Because It Matters segment about the use of hydrogen cyanamide (Hi-Cane) at a kiwifruit orchard in Kerikeri, and concerns raised by neighbours about spray- drift. The EPA worked with WorkSafe to provide information in response to enquiries from the reporter.
Article: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/rural/2019/07/spot-testing-of-northland-kiwifruit-orchards-for-toxic- chemical-spray-hi-cane.html
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