Under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996 the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) must make decisions about applications in accordance with a Methodology which is formally established by Order in Council.
The Methodology ensures that decisions are made in a consistent way and that appropriate weight is given to risks, costs and benefits.
The current Methodology Order was prepared in 1998 – before ERMA New Zealand had considered any hazardous substance or new organism applications. Since 1998 there have also been a number of significant amendments to the HSNO Act.
In order to reflect the benefit of ten years of experience and to provide for the amendments to the Act ERMA New Zealand has prepared a proposed revised Methodology.
A paper outlining the proposals and a proposed revised Methodology which demonstrates how these policy proposals might be given effect is available here Methodology Document [pdf - 280kb]
ERMA New Zealand welcomes any comments or suggestions from the public in relation to these proposals. The closing date for submissions is Monday 8 December 2008.
Submissions may be:
- emailed to methodology@ermanz.govt.nz;
- faxed to (04) 914 0433;
- or posted to:
Submission on Methodology Revision
ERMA New Zealand
PO Box 131
Wellington
In order for submissions to be acknowledged the name and contact details (postal or email address) of the person or organisation making the submission should be provided.
If for privacy reasons you do not wish these details to be publicly released with your submission, you can include this information in a covering letter and leave it off the submission itself. The Authority may choose to release the submissions received, and once released submissions may be posted on the ERMA New Zealand website.
Contact for enquiries:
Libby Harrison - Acting General Manager Strategy & Analysis
Libby.Harrison@ermanz.govt.nz
(04) 918 4828