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Introduction to the National Air Quality Standards
The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) has developed a suite of national environmental standards - mandatory "bottom-line" regulations that apply nationally.
These standards cover:
- Create a level playing field for industry
- Provide consistency and certainty in decision making
- Provide a minimum level of protection of health and the environment
The Standards
The first batch of standards focus on air quality. MfE has been working closely with regional councils for some years on air quality guidance and monitoring,
so all the background technical work has already been done.
The 14 standards include:
- Seven standards banning activities that discharge significant quantities of dioxins and other toxics into the air;
- Five standards for ambient (outdoor) air quality;
- A design standard for new wood burners installed in urban areas; and
- A requirement for landfills over 1 million tonnes of refuse to collect greenhouse gas emissions
The national environmental standards are available on the Ministry for the Environment
website along with general information on Air Quality.
Ministry for the Environment Clean Air Programme
Air
Related information
Other sections that may interest you:
A Burning Issue
Prohibited Activities
The National Environmental Standard will prohibit a number of activities that emit hazardous pollutants. Most of the activities specified in the Standard are currently
discretionary under Southland's Regional Air Quality Plan, meaning that resource consent is currently
required.
Air pollution problems?
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