EPA serves Compliance Order on Nelson Airport
The Environmental Protection Authority has served a Compliance Order on Nelson Airport, following its inspection of the
airport’s fire-fighting facilities as part of its inquiry into fire-fighting foams, Chief Executive Dr Allan Freeth
announced today.
“Under changes to the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act arising from workplace safety reforms, on 1 December
last year the EPA became responsible for enforcing the requirements that workplace hazardous substances have certain
approvals, that persistent organic pollutants are not used, and that any on hand are safely stored and disposed of. The
EPA has been preparing for its assumption of these new responsibilities for some time.
“On 20 December, the EPA announced its investigation into PFOS- and PFOA-containing fire-fighting foams. As part of that
inquiry, we are visiting airports across the country. We are taking samples of fire-fighting foams and having them
tested by an independent, qualified laboratory.”
“The results from Nelson Airport show that foams held in two fire trucks, and numerous storage containers, have tested
positive for PFOS. Given these foams are present in the appliances, clearly they would be used in response to a fire
emergency at the airport,” Dr Freeth said.
“The compliance order we have issued requires the airport to stop using fire-fighting foam containing PFOS when
responding to emergencies as soon as practicable. In the interim, the airport may continue using the foam for
emergencies, in the interests of safety. The compliance order also requires the airport to cease using the foam for
training or testing purposes.”
The airport must submit a plan to the EPA by Friday 16 March, detailing steps that will be taken to ensure the foam is
no longer used. The plan must also show how the foam will be safely stored and disposed of, to minimise harm to the
environment.
“Our aim is to ensure Nelson Airport follows the legal requirements, which are designed to protect people and the
environment,” Dr Freeth said.
“Foams manufactured using PFOS have not been legal for use in New Zealand since 2006, when they were excluded from a
Fire-fighting Chemicals Group Standard issued by the EPA.
PFOS is listed as a persistent organic pollutant under the Stockholm Convention, and the Hazardous Substances and New
Organisms Act was amended in 2011 to reflect this,” Dr Freeth said.
“This means that no import, use or manufacture of PFOS compounds is permitted in New Zealand, other than for specific,
identified uses, such as laboratory analysis.”
“Our investigation is continuing, and the EPA is having samples of fire-fighting foams from other airports analysed,” Dr
Freeth said.
ends