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SLIDE 2 CHIEF EXECUTIVE INITIATED REASSESSMENT
17-21 MAY 2010
Noel McCardle Senior Advisor Hazardous Substances ENVIRONMENTAL RISK MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
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The Process
– Applicant - Chief Executive of ERMA New Zealand – Grounds established July 2008 – Preparation of application – ERMA staff – Public submissions 5 Nov 09 - 26 Feb 10 – 95 submissions received – Update Paper – Hearings – Consideration - Decision
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The papers
– The documentation – The application – Submissions & further information – Update paper
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Key issues
– International considerations – (Lack of) availability of alternatives – Public concern about the health effects – Effectiveness of controls – Weighing the positive v adverse effects
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Key issues
– International
– EU Ban – The Montreal Protocol
– Alternatives
– Horticulture – Commodities – Logs
– Health effects
– Motor neurone disease
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Key issues
– International
– EU Ban – The Montreal Protocol
– Alternatives
– Horticulture – Commodities – Logs
– Health effects
– Motor neurone disease
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Controls
– TELs (Tolerable Exposure Limits) – Buffer zones – Monitoring – Recapture
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BUFFER ZONES
SLIDE 10 Buffer zones
Use Minimum Buffer Zone (m) Ship’s hold (greater than 1000 kg methyl bromide used) 100 Ship’s hold (less than 1000 kg) 50 Logs/timber under covers outdoors and indoors (without recapture technology) 50 More than 1 shipping container (77 m3) per hour 25 1 shipping container (77 m3) per hour 10
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Controls
– Monitoring – Compliance with TELs – Effectiveness of controls – Exemptions – Reporting
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Controls
– Recapture – Practical? – Affordable?
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Risk-based approach
Weighing the risks, costs, & benefits:
–Human health and safety –Environment –Relationship of Māori to the environment –Society and communities –Market economy –International obligations
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Risk-based approach
–Human health and safety
–Exposure is involuntary –Risk will persist over time –Potential adverse effects are irreversible –Risk not understood by public –Uncertainty in best way to manage effects
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Risk-based approach
–Environment –Relationship of Māori to the environment –Society and communities –Market economy –International obligations
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Methyl Bromide
Key recommendations for additional controls: – Setting tolerable exposure limits – Minimum buffer zones – Requirements for air quality monitoring – Use of recapture technology for all shipping container fumigations – Requiring major fumigations to be notified – Restricted to use for quarantine and pre- shipment (QPS) purposes
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