15. Resource Quality (Water, Air, Soil) Volume One [R] Policy 15.3.3 – Control emissions from large scale fuel burning devices outside the Blenheim airshed and approve discharge permit applications where the discharge will not be dangerous or noxious, or cause an offensive or objectionable effect beyond the boundary of the site(s) from where the discharge originates. Many of the large scale fuel burning devices in Marlborough are located in rural and industrial environments outside the Blenheim airshed. These devices will inevitably discharge contaminants, especially those devices burning solid fuel, and the policy seeks to prevent nuisance effects beyond the site. Good practice can minimise emissions so that neighbours do not experience significant nuisance effects. For example, good maintenance and operation of industrial boilers can reduce visible smoke emissions to brief periods. Good practice can prevent objectionable or offensive dispersal of smoke or deposition of particles beyond the boundary of the property the discharge originates from. The policy uses the standards provided by Section 17 of the RMA. [R] Policy 15.3.4 – Manage the use of agrichemicals to avoid spraydrift. The boundary of the property on which the application of agrichemical occurs is the point at which management applies, as follows: (a) any agrichemical should not move, either directly or indirectly, beyond the property boundary of the site(s) where it is or has been applied; and (b) agrichemical users will be required to utilise best practice and exercise reasonable care to achieve (a). The use of agrichemicals is an important management tool, especially in rural environments where they contribute to the control of animal and plant pests and help to minimise crop diseases. Use of agrichemicals in the environment is controlled under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996. Each agrichemical must be approved for use by the Environmental Protection Authority. The Authority can also impose specific controls on the application of agrichemicals to ensure safe use. The policy signals that the Council’s role in controlling the discharge of contaminants to air is restricted to ensuring there are no off-site adverse effects. The property boundary is therefore established as the point to which management is applied, as agrichemicals have the potential to cause health effects and other unintended consequences once they move beyond the boundary of the property on which they are being used. Spraydrift usually occurs as a result of inappropriate application methods and practices (e.g. applying agrichemicals in windy conditions). The Council will rely on agrichemical users applying best practice and exercising reasonable care to avoid spraydrift beyond their property boundary. [R] Policy 15.3.5 – Manage discharges of contaminants to air not specifically provided for in Policies 15.2.1 to 15.2.3 or 15.3.1 to 15.3.4 by: (a) allowing, as permitted activities, discharges of contaminants into air from industrial or trade premises or industrial or trade processes that have no more than minor adverse effects on the environment; (b) avoiding or mitigating adverse effects of localised ground level concentrations of contaminants, including cumulative effects on: (i) human health; and (ii) amenity values; and (c) avoiding or mitigating adverse effects on any other values. A wide range of contaminants are discharged to air as a result of day-to-day activities, especially from industrial or trade premises and processes. Provided they are properly managed, many of these discharges can occur without the risk of significant adverse effects on the environment. Permitted activity rules can be used to enable these discharges, subject to appropriate standards. 15 – 34