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Responding to Soil Contamination in the Moanataiari Subdivision

Responding to Soil Contamination in the Moanataiari Subdivision. And when the NES does and does not apply May 2012. Messages of this presentation:. Managing human health risk remains the key issue

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Responding to Soil Contamination in the Moanataiari Subdivision

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  1. Responding to Soil Contamination in the Moanataiari Subdivision And when the NES does and does not apply May 2012

  2. Messages of this presentation: • Managing human health risk remains the key issue • Until triggered, the NES does not apply to ongoing lawfully established activities, regardless of the soil contamination until there is a change in use, subdivision, earthworks • To more valuably inform of risk and appropriate response, health risk assessment work is required • In the meantime, health risk is being managed within the guidelines issued by the MoH and WDHB

  3. What is the NES? • A regulation under the Resource Management Act, 1991 • National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health (NES) • NZ Regulation in force since 1 January 2012 • Purpose – a planning tool to ensure: • Identification and assessment of land affected by contaminated soil • Appropriate assessment of contaminated land at the time of land being developed, subdivided, or disturbed; and, • If necessary, remediation or contaminant containment to make land safe for human use • Reflects NZ government policy on acceptable increased risk • Acceptable risk level is 1 in 100,000 • Developed Soil Contaminant Standards (SCS) for priority contaminants

  4. How does the NES apply to Moanataiari? • The NES • Only triggered if the land is subdivided, developed or disturbed • Unless triggered, cannot require remediation to be undertaken, even if the land is unfit for its current use • Once triggered, consents may be required to undertake activities/land use

  5. Acceptable Risk Level • Contaminants in soil can have adverse effects on human health • Based on a number of factors, including the reference health standard: • Estimated daily amount that can be taken into the body without exceeding an acceptable risk level • The arsenic concentration in soil for a standard residential scenario that gives rise to this dose is 20 mg/kg (SCS for arsenic)

  6. What is a Soil Contaminant Standard • The SCS is a New Zealand risk based standard to protect human health that: (NES or otherwise) • Serves to indicate whether there is a potential risk to human health • When exceeded, serves as conservative clean-up targets for many situations, i.e., where further investigation or site-specific risk assessment is not warranted or economic • Informs on-site management actions to address human health risk issues • Triggers further investigation to better assess the risk and/or determine site-specific criteria as a Tier 2 assessment

  7. How was arsenic SCS derived? • Arsenic is considered a non-threshold contaminant (cancer causing) • Up to date methodology used that is not inconsistent with other countries • Uses New Zealand derived criteria: SCS (Soil ingestion) = RHS x ED x 106 IRadjx EF Where: RHS = Reference health standard (mg/kg BW/day) ED = Life time exposure (days) IRadj= Age adjusted ingestion rate (mg/day) • EF = Exposure frequency (days/year)

  8. Arsenic SCS Assumptions • Assumptions • Contaminants are 100% bioavailable • Only a (as yet unknown) fraction of arsenic in the soil will be absorbed and able to harm health • 10% produce consumption for standard residential scenario • Not all households grow their own food

  9. Current situation • The detailed site investigations on individual properties completed • Total arsenic and lead concentrations in the soils on Moanataiari exceed the SCS • These soils also exceed soil guideline values for thallium • The NES has not been triggered for these properties

  10. What's next? • Undertake a Tier 2 Health Risk Assessment • The criteria that can be altered are limited • Test the assumptions, especially bioavailability • Trial underway • Develop site specific soil values for Moanataiari • Long term management of risks to human health • Consider the community’s expectations • Understand options to remediate/mitigate or manage the risks to health • Determine methods for monitoring and maintaining any health protection measures.

  11. END

  12. References • Resource Management (National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health) Regulations 2011 (http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2011/0361/latest/DLM4052228.html?search=ts_regulation_contaminants_resel&p=1&sr=1) • Users' Guide: National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health (http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/rma/users-guide-nes-for-assessing-managing-contaminants-in-soil/) • Methodology for Deriving Standards for Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health (http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/hazardous/deriving-standards-for-contaminants-in-soil/index.html) • Toxicological Intake Values for Priority Contaminants in Soil (http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/hazardous/toxicological-intake-values-for-priority-contaminants-in-soil/index.html)

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