Volume One 15. Resource Quality (Water, Air, Soil) be managed (including all sources of nutrient - for example, discharges from farm dairy effluent systems, animal discharges and/or atmospheric nitrogen fixation. Air In general, Marlborough enjoys good air quality, due to the District’s windy climate and low, dispersed population. However, air quality in some locations has been reduced due to human activities resulting in the discharge of contaminants into the air. These localised air quality problems impact on the amenity and health of the community. National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (NESAQ) came into effect in 2004. These comprise of a range of ambient air quality standards applying to carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter (PM). The air pollutant of most concern in 10 Marlborough is particulate matter. Particles found in the air we breathe vary greatly in size and the greatest health hazard comes from the smallest particles (those less than 10 microns in diameter) as they are easily inhaled into our lungs). The NESAQ sets a threshold concentration for PM of 50 microns. By 2016, in designated areas (called airsheds) the threshold 10 concentration will only be allowed to be exceeded once in any 12 month period. From 2016, more than one such breach will mean that the Council is non-compliant with the NESAQ. There is currently one airshed in Marlborough, encompassing the urban area of Blenheim. Other occasional air quality issues in Marlborough include smoke, which can affect the amenity values enjoyed on neighbouring or nearby properties, and spraydrift, resulting in complaints to the Council. Spraydrift occurs when the aerosols from the application of agrichemicals move beyond the boundary of the property on which the chemicals are used. Given the hazardous nature of agrichemicals, spraydrift creates a risk to human health on neighbouring properties and those in close proximity to the property. The Council is responsible for the management of the discharge of contaminants into air. Unless expressly allowed by a rule in a regional plan or by resource consent, the discharge of contaminants into air is prohibited by the RMA. However, many activities result (either directly or indirectly) in the discharge of contaminants into air. One of the roles of the MEP is to identify which air discharges are appropriate, the circumstances in which they are appropriate, and which air discharges are not appropriate. Although the discharge of greenhouse gases contributes to the global issue of climate change, this issue is being addressed by central government at an international and national level. The RMA effectively excludes regional councils from the role of regulating emissions for climate change purposes (Sections 70A and 104E of the RMA). For this reason, nothing in this chapter specifically deals with the discharge of greenhouse gases into air. However, Chapter 19 - Climate Change does contain provisions seeking more generally to mitigate and adapt to the adverse effects on the environment arising from climate change. Issue 15D – The discharge of particulate matter into air has the potential to cause significant health effects in urban areas, particularly in Blenheim. Clean, fresh air is an important and valued part of Marlborough’s environment and the community’s quality of life. Unfortunately, elevated levels of particulate can build-up over Blenheim during the winter months, especially during calm, cold evenings. The main source of this PM is solid fuel burning, mainly from domestic home heating, which contributes up to 10 92 percent of the anthropogenic PMmeasured. Other sources include backyard burning of 10 waste and discharges associated with industrial activities. 15 – 29