B-5 – Area 5 - Assessment of Environmental Effects 147 OGNZL continues to work with tangata whenua regarding the effects on the project on cultural values. For this reason, provisions within the RPS regarding cultural values have been assessed at a high level within Section 9 of the Overarching AEE. This will be further developed as consultation progresses and cultural impact assessments have been completed. 7.5.1.1 Air Quality Objective 3.11 of the RPS relates to the management of air quality. It seeks that air quality be managed so that where existing air quality is better than national environmental standards for ambient air, any degradation is as low as reasonably achievable, so it avoids unacceptable risks to human health and ecosystems. It also seeks to avoid (where practicable) adverse effects on local amenity values. Policies 5.2 and 5.3 follow this approach and specify that: Discharges to air are to be managed to ensure any degradation avoids unacceptable risks to human health, and is as low as reasonably achievable;16 and Discharges to air are to be managed so as to avoid, remedy or mitigate objectionable effects beyond the property boundary.17 Potential effects on air quality are addressed in detail in Section 5.17 of this AEE. which concludes that the concentrations of key contaminants associated with activities within Area 5 are expected to remain within the relevant standards and guideline values, thus preserving human health.18 A number of management measures are proposed by OGNZL as part of the proposed consent conditions (including the implementation of a comprehensive Air Quality Management Plan) to ensure that any discharges to air are managed and controlled so they do not result in objectionable effects beyond a property boundary. 19 This includes a requirement to install mercury capture technology to ensure mercury and other metals from the Processing Plant do not exceed relevant air quality criteria and annual and hourly limits on mercury emission rates. In light of the above, it is considered that the activities within Area 5 will meet the management outcomes sought by Objective 3.11 and Policies 5.2 and 5.3 of the RPS with respect to air quality and the control of the effects of air discharges. 16 Policy 5.2, Waikato Regional Policy Statement. 17 Policy 5.2, Waikato Regional Policy Statement. 18 Objective 3.11(b), Waikato Regional Policy Statement. 19 Objective 3.11(c) and Policy 5.3, Waikato Regional Policy Statement.
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