Chapter 17 - Hazardous Substances and Facilities 17.0 Hazardous Substances and Facilities 17.1 Introduction Hazardous substances are a part of our everyday lives. Activities that use, store or transport a hazardous substance, or which generate hazardous waste include: • Manufacturing or processing industries (eg; timber treatment, drycleaning, spraypainting, engineering, boat building and repair); • Rural industries (eg; pest control); • Domestic activities (eg; household cleaning, house construction, maintenance and repair); and • Transport related activities (eg; storage, handling and movement of hazardous substances). Common examples of hazardous substances are: petroleum products such as petrol, diesel, LPG, oils and solvents; household chemicals such as bleaches, pesticides, paints, adhesives and fuels; and chemical products such as acids, alkalis, pesticides and herbicides. Control of hazardous substances is necessary to manage the risk of adverse effects arising from their inappropriate storage, use, or disposal. Transport of hazardous substances is adequately covered by transport legislation. The Environmental Risk Management Authority, under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 is responsible for managing hazardous substances, and their importation and manufacture. 17.2 Issue Adverse effects on the environment arising from the storage, use, transport and disposal of hazardous substances. Under the Act the Council has the functions of controlling land use to prevent or mitigate the adverse effects from hazardous substances and controlling discharges of contaminants to land, water or air. This includes planning for disposal sites that receive hazardous wastes and issuing resource consents for discharges to the environment. In the Plan, the management of hazardous substances focuses on those facilities and activities that use, store or dispose of hazardous substances rather than on the substances themselves. In other words the Plan is concerned with the risks posed by the circumstances surrounding hazardous substances and their use rather than the substances in isolation. Hazardous substance management depends on the immediate environment being protected, the hazardous substance, and the risks involved. Where the risk and potential consequences are low and cumulative effects are unlikely, then storage, use, transport and disposal is a permitted activity. Where the risks from hazardous substances are greater the activity is managed as either discretionary or prohibited activities. 17 - 1