Notice of Hearings

The following has been received from ERMA:

The public hearing on the reassessment of Methyl Bromide has now been confirmed for Picton

Picton:
19 May 2010
9.00 a.m. – 10.30 a.m.
Mercure Picton Marlborough Sounds (formerly The Yacht Club)
25 Waikawa Road
Picton

Contact for Hearing (ERMA)
Samantha Smith (04) 918 4880

This is a public meeting so if you can make it your support would be much appreciated.

Further hearings are confirmed for:

Wellington 17th May
Nelson 18th May
Tauranga 20th May
Auckland 21st May

These notices may change, please check the ERMA New Zealand website for the most up to date version.

The submissions are now available to view on the ERMA New Zealand website at
http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/hs/methyl%20bromide/index.html
and a summary of the submissions will be circulated with the Update Paper.

A copy of the Update Paper will be circulated on or before Monday 3 May 2010.  It will automatically be sent to all parties presenting at the hearing and will be available on our website. If you are not listed as attending or are not attending a hearing and wish to receive a copy, please let me know.

In the meantime, please contact me if you have any queries regarding the hearing process.

Yours sincerely

Sam Smith

APPLICATIONS ADMINISTRATOR

HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
ERMA New Zealand · BP House · 20 Customhouse Quay

PO Box 131 · Wellington 6140 · New Zealand · www.ermanz.govt.nz

Tel: +64 4 918-4880  ·  Fax: +64-4-914-0433

Email: samantha.smith@ermanz.govt.nz

Methyl Bromide Protests

A newly formed Coalition against the use of Methyl Bromide is holding a nationwide series of protests to oppose the use of this extremely toxic gas at New Zealand ports. Methyl Bromide is 60 times more destructive to the ozone than the chlorine from CFCs. It is also a serious health hazard and exposure to Methyl Bromide may have been the cause of the death of six port workers in Nelson.

Despite New Zealand ratifying the the Montreal Protocol which commits member countries to phasing out the use of Methyl Bromide, New Zealand’s usage has increased over the years.

The coalition is calling for the use of Methyl Bromide to be totally phased out and until that time recaptured using cost effective recapture technology, to protect the health of the workers and reduce the harm done to the ozone. Green MP Sue Kedgley and union representatives will speak at the protests.

Protest Schedule

Picton

Date: Friday April 23

Time: 12.00

Location: Shakespeare Bay Lookout

(meet at Le Café, London Quay, 10.45am for a march to Port Marlborough Offices, then you will be bused up to the look out for speeches etc)

)

Map - http://bit.ly/9tNucR

Wellington

Date: Monday April 26

Time: 12.00

Location: The footpath outside of the Bluebridge entrance

(Waterloo quay, over the road from the railway station)

Map - http://bit.ly/9MqJ2R

Tauranga

Date: Wednesday April 28

Time: 12.00

Location: Corner of Totara St and Hull Rd. It is the first intersection from the wharf.

Map - http://bit.ly/aZW3US

The Coalition includes the following organisations:

Soil and Health New Zealand Association

The Green Party

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union

Council of Trade Unions

The Safe Food Campaign

Guardian of the Sounds

The Pesticide Action Network

Maritime Union New Zealand

Friends of Nelsonhaven and Tasman Bay

Dates have now been set for five hearings to be held in May 2010 as part of the next stage of the methyl bromide reassessment process.

The period for commenting on the application for reassessment closed in late February 2010. A total of 92 submissions were received. ERMA New Zealand is now reviewing submissions. Once done, the staff will prepare an update paper for the decision-making committee of the Environmental Risk Management Authority to consider. This will include a summary of submissions and any further relevant information, as well as the staff’s recommendation in light of submissions.

Some of the issues raised in the submissions include buffer zones, modelling, monitoring, recapture and public health concerns.

Approximately 40 per cent of submitters asked to speak at a hearing.

The hearings are set down for:

• Monday, 17 May in Wellington;
• Tuesday, 18 May in Nelson;
• Wednesday, 19 May in Picton/Blenheim;
• Thursday, 20 May in Tauranga; and
• Friday, 21 May in Auckland.

Venues and times will be confirmed shortly and submitters who have asked to speak at a hearing will be contacted to make arrangements.

After the hearings, the Environmental Risk Management Authority will consider all information put before it, from all sources, before making its decision on future use of the substance.

The decision could approve the use of methyl bromide for some or all of its current uses, add stricter controls, or prohibit some or all of its uses.

A final decision is expected in mid to late 2010.

For further information on the reassessment, visit the homepage at
http://www.ermanz.govt.nz/hs/methyl%20bromide/index.html

Members of the public are welcome to attend the hearings, though only submitters may speak.

If you would like to attend a hearing, please register your interest with Samantha Smith, samantha.smith@ermanz.govt.nz, 04 918 4880 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 04 918 4880 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, to ensure you are advised of venues and times.