How we monitor dust
We know that dust can be a real nuisance for communities. Managing and monitoring discharges to air, including dust, in our region is part of our responsibilities as a regulator under the Resource Management Act (RMA) and the Canterbury Air Regional Plan.
If a consented activity is likely to cause dust, it will have conditions placed on it to make sure all practical measures are being taken to lessen its effect. We then monitor these consents to check the conditions are being adhered to.
How we assess dust discharges
We regularly respond to community reports of dust events and conduct proactive monitoring near known dust sources.
For action to be taken, dust levels need to be considered ‘offensive or objectionable’ beyond the property boundary.
To determine if the level of dust is ‘offensive or objectionable’ and beyond a property’s boundary, our resource management officers will visit the affected site and assess the type, frequency, intensity, duration, offensiveness/character and location of the dust event based on the Ministry of the Environment guidelines. These are called the ‘FIDOL’ factors.
Given dust doesn’t tend to stay in the air for too long, it can be difficult to substantiate that an ‘offensive or objectionable’ dust event occurred. Where possible, we will contact the consent holder and the witness/es to get a full picture of the effect.
Key factors considered
When investigating a dust complaint, we consider:
- Frequency of dust events - From rare/occasionally to several times a day
- Intesity- How much dust? How severe is the effect? - From little dust/little effect to large extent/severe effect
- Duration - How long does the dust event last? - From short (a few seconds) to long-lasting (minutes at a time)
- Offensiveness
- Health impacts: From a lower risk of health effects to a higher risk of causing health effects (e.g asbestos)
- Property impact: From low potential or actual property damage to severe losses or inconvenience
- Location sensitivity of the surrounding environment - From low sensitivity to high sensitivity (e.g preschool)
We may also consider:
- other validated dust events or incidents from the site or operation
- the collection and analysis of dust samples
- weather conditions during the event – e.g. rainfall, or wind speed and direction
- effectiveness of dust control measures and other operational matters at the time of the incident
- dust event register held at the source site, including remedial or preventative actions required and recorded
- airborne and deposited dust monitoring information
- computer modelling of potential dust plumes
- dust diaries recorded by people living or working within the area
- public surveys/field investigations by us or other parties.
In most cases, the last four actions will not be needed, but we may take these steps for larger-scale discharges or where enforcement action is likely.
Report a dust event
You can report a dust event by calling our Incident Response Line on 0800 765 588.
Calling is best (rather than emailing or using pollution apps) because dust events need to be responded to quickly to effectively track the source.
We’ll ask you for information about the location, duration, effects on property or nuisance effects, frequency of events and the sensitivity of the area.
We will endeavour to respond to all customers who call within two working days. The staff member who investigates the incident will let both the customer and the alleged offender know the outcome of their investigation once concluded.
Enforcement options for dust
Usually, putting in place effective dust control measures can prevent or fix any offensive or objectionable effects.
When a dust issue is identified, we’ll work with the offender to establish better dust management procedures, and if appropriate take enforcement action.
Possible enforcement options under the RMA include:
- infringement notice (issued by the Council)
- abatement notice (issued by the Council)
- enforcement order (issued by the Environment Court)
- interim enforcement order (issued by the Environment Court)
- prosecution.