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This comprehensive guide covers the implementation of Air Quality National Environmental Standards (AQNES) and regional policies, including monitoring, reporting, and compliance strategies. It delves into the health impacts of poor air quality, emphasizing the need for regulatory measures to reduce over 400 premature deaths and 750,000 reduced activity days annually. The text explores major sources of air pollution such as transport, domestic fires, and industrial discharges, highlighting AQNES prohibitions to address issues like landfill fires and backyard burning. Implementation challenges, emission reduction targets, and regulatory considerations are also discussed to ensure a sustainable and equitable approach to improving air quality. Specific findings detail the health impacts of particulate matter from traffic and coal combustion, emphasizing the importance of regulatory enforcement and ongoing monitoring for public health.
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Air Quality National Environmental Standards - Implementation Kevin Mahon Auckland Regional Council
RC’s responsibilities under RMA1991 • Regional Policy Statements • Plans & Rules (eg RLTS & PRP:ALW) • Monitoring and Reporting (s35. SoR) • AQNES (Prohibitions, Monitoring & Reporting) • AQNES (projections & consent considerations)
HEALTH EFFECTS in Ak REGION • > 400 premature deaths per year • >750,000 reduced activity days per year • Sensitive population (20-25% asthmatic) • Chronic exposure is 10x worse than Acute exposure for life expectancy
Pressures on the Air Resource • Transport • Domestic Fires • Open burning • Industrial discharges
AQNES – Prohibitions(R 6-10) Included in PRP:ALW • Landfill fires • Tyre burning • Bitumen burning • Coated wire burning • Oil burning in open air
AQNES – Prohibitions(R 11-12) School & healthcare incinerators require consents under AQNES • PRP:ALW – single chamber incinerators permitted in rural AQMA’s & prohibited in non-rural High temperature hazardous waste incinerators – prohibited except 3 sites • PRP:ALW - discretionary
Backyard Burning(3000 complaints/yr) PRP:ALW • – Prohibited in Urban AQMA • – Restricted in non-Urban AQMA’s
New Domestic Fires (15-20% of emissions) • PRP:ALW – all units < 4g/Kg in Ak Reg • AQNES – wood units < 1.5g/Kg in <2ha (R22-24)
Transport (60-80% of emissions) • RLTS – Public Transport (more & cleaner) • Travel Demand Mgt • Transport Alternatives • VFECS – Central Government Prog. • Cleaner fuels • Vehicle standards • Emission standards(CoF & WoF) • NES – Designations and Land Use • (GPG being developed)
Industrial Discharges (5-10% of emissions) • PRP:ALW – Rules & Consents • AQNES – Consents & Sunset clause (R17-19)
Implementation Issues(1) • Condensing 2 yrs work into 6mths • Consistent approach • Straight line path: • Starting point • Emission Reduction Rates(eg. Transport) • Road Dust • Monitoring and Exceedances
Implementation Issues(2) • GPG relationship to Regulations • Peak to Mean uncertainty • ie. 1day peak to annual emission rate • Can we reach a legally defensible level of certainty?
Implementation Issues(3) • Will the industrial discharge sunset Reg .19 apply pressure to: • Central Govt to reduce vehicle emissions • RC’s to reduce emissions equitably • If we get it wrong who pays?
What next? • Clarify technical issues • Flexibility with consents eg offsets • Add certainty to implementation • Review in 6mths
Specific Findings(2) • Particulate from traffic and coal combustion sources have the most significant impacts on mortality. • Several biological mechanisms have been determined for how PM may cause health effects. • Significant reanalysis and peer review have confirmed the relationship between adverse health effects and PM mass. • PM has a sustained impact on health rather than just affecting those for whom death is imminent.