Volume One 15. Resource Quality (Water, Air, Soil) Those discharges not covered by the permitted activity rules developed under (a) and not otherwise covered by Policies 15.2.1 to 15.2.3 or 15.3.1 to 15.3.4 will require resource consent. Ground level concentration of contaminants will be used to assess the actual or potential effects of the discharge and its impact on human health and amenity values. The Council can also have regard to any other impact of the discharge on the wider environment, including on water quality and biodiversity. [R] Policy 15.3.6 – Promote measures to avoid or mitigate the effects of the discharge of contaminants to air at their source. Consistent with the waste management provisions of the MEP, it is appropriate to minimise contaminants present in discharges to air at their source. The Council will work with resource users and groups representing resource users to ensure that best practices are developed and implemented to reduce the discharge of contaminants to air. For example, waste may be able to be re-used, recycled or disposed of through alternative methods, rather than being burned. Where the discharge of contaminants to air cannot be avoided (e.g. in an industrial or trade process for which there are no alternatives), then the Council will encourage resource users to minimise the concentration of contaminants in the discharge through good management (whether a discharge permit is required or not). [R] Policy 15.3.7 – Having adequate information about the state of Marlborough’s air quality to enable the Council to assess the cumulative effects of discharges to air on amenity values and human health. The Council’s knowledge about the state of air quality in Marlborough is not perfect or complete. This means that the air quality policies may not be effective in achieving Objective 15.3. For this reason, the Council will seek to identify information gaps, either in terms of contaminants monitored or the location of monitoring, and adjust or expand the state of the environment monitoring programme as resourcing and priorities allow. The information gathered may inform the next review of the MEP or even require a plan change if the adverse effects are significant enough. Methods of implementation The methods listed below are to be implemented by the Council unless otherwise specified. [R] 15.M.31 Regional rules Use regional rules to establish standards for the discharge of contaminants to air that adequately protect human health and amenity values. Standards will be imposed through regional rules requiring dischargers to keep accurate records of the discharge of particular contaminants to air, including agrichemicals. Apply a prohibition to the discharge of contaminants to air by the combustion of materials that result in significant adverse effects on the environment. [R] 15.M.33 Monitoring In addition to monitoring within airsheds, particulate levels will be monitored in areas not covered by airsheds and where location specific issues arise. This may result in the addition of further airsheds in the event of non-compliance with the NESAQ. Monitoring of other air contaminants, including those specified in the NESAQ, may occur from time to time. 15 – 35