Calls to the Pollution Hotline are logged as environment incidents. The incidents are classified as minor incidents, resource consent incidents and serious environmental incidents/alleged offences. Based on the classification, as decision is made within 30 minutes on the appropriate response for each incident reported.
Minor incidents – reported incident has not, or is not likely to, result in a significant environmental effect or offence.
Resource consent incidents – reported incident relates to an activity authorised by resource consent.
Serious environmental incidents/alleged offences – an enforcement officer investigates incidents in this category, generally through a site visit. The first priority will be to minimise any adverse effects on the environment and then to investigate the incident.
Environmental incidents from 1 November 2009 to 28 February 2010
A total of 1208 incidents were reported through the pollution hotline between 6 November 2009 and 28 February 2010.
Of the 1208 incidents reported this quarter, 1048 or about 87% have been investigated and the complaints closed off. The other 160 complaints are in various stages of investigation. In total there are 234 complaints (some from previous quarters) that are still being investigated and are not closed off.
To find out more about a particular type of incident view the details below.
Air
Air quality incidents reported to Environment Canterbury’s Pollution Hotline most commonly relate to agricultural or industrial odour as well as smoke from domestic and outdoor fires. However, air quality incidents reported also relate to a wide range of other issues such as dust from construction sites or quarries, particulates from abrasive blasting, and other emissions from industrial premises.
Sixty-four percent of the complaints received by the pollution hotline this month were related to air quality (778 complaints). Christchurch City had the highest number of complaints (478 complaints) and this is due to dust discharges, odours and outside fires in residential areas.
Water
Discharges of effluent and sediments to water are commonly reported to the Environment Canterbury Pollution Hotline. Water quality incidents reported also include discharges of industrial contaminants, fish kills and works in waterways such as gravel excavation, bridge and culvert construction.
Complaints related to water amounted to about twenty-two percent of the total incidents (266 complaints) reported through the pollution hotline. The Christchurch City region has the highest number of incidents reported, followed by the Selwyn, Waimakariri and Ashburton districts.
Coastal
The majority of coastal incidents reported to the Pollution Hotline relate to discharges of wastewater, oil spills and algal blooms. However, coastal incidents reported may also relate to works in the coastal zone such as the construction of boat ramps and jetties.
Coastal incidents (30 incidents) make up a small proportion of the total incidents reported through pollution hotline. Christchurch City and Timaru had the highest number of incidents around the region.
Land
Common land incidents reported to Environment Canterbury relate to clearing vegetation, gravel extraction, waste storage and waste disposal. Discharges to land such as domestic and agricultural wastewater, waste from industrial processes and the use of agricultural chemicals are also reported to the hotline.
There were 134 incidents relating to land reported through the Pollution Hotline this third. The Christchurch City region, Timaru, and Waimakariri and Ashburton districts made up the majority of incidents relating to land.
Enforcement activity report
Enforcement action may be taken in a number of situations such as in response to a serious environmental incident, alleged offence, or where there is a failure to comply with the conditions of resource consent. In these situations, Environment Canterbury’s priority will be to minimise any adverse environmental effects and then to investigate the incident.
The majority of environmental incidents reported through the Pollution Hotline were unsubstantiated, mitigated, or resolved through education/advocacy, verbal and written warnings.When further enforcement action was warranted Environment Canterbury issued 15 infringement notices and 50 abatement notices, and started the prosecution process for 7 cases.