An investigation of a West Coat landfill has found a sediment pond in the private operation has been discharging contaminated water into a roadside drain.
The Environmental Protection Authority has been investigating the Taylorville Resource Park site near Greymouth since January and has now slapped down an abatement notice for water leachate, giving the operators three months to rectify the situation.
Taylorville Resource Park has been approached today for comment on the latest development.
EPA investigations manager Jackie Adams said the abatement notice to Taylorville Resource Park is specifically for "contaminated water" leaching from the private landfill, at Coal Creek 5km east of Greymouth.
Failure by Taylorville Resource Park to act on it could result in "further enforcement action" by the authority under the Resource Management Act.
Adams said the landfill operator now has three months to meet "the required environmental standards".
Meantime, it could continue to operate during the abatement notice period.
'Must empty the existing pond'
Adams said their investigation involved site visits, interviews, and the collection and analysis of multiple water samples.
"Our investigation found the sediment pond was discharging contaminated water," he said.
"Under the abatement notice, which is now in place, Taylorville Resource Park must empty the existing pond and redirect the water to a new authorised storage facility or to an authorised facility off-site.
"We will be working closely with Taylorville Resource Park to ensure the conditions of the abatement notice are met," Adams said.
In January, the West Coast Regional Council called on the Environmental Protection Authority to take over the council's ongoing investigation of the site.
This followed a raft of complaints to council in 2023 including water leaching from the site into a roadside drain, a foul odour forcing nearby residents indoors, and alleged demolition related asbestos dust affecting neighbours.
The Grey District Council had particular concerns about water leachate and the proximity of its Greymouth Water Treatment Plant.
It commissioned its own testing and a review including legal advice which it put to the regional council in March after expressing its unhappiness at not being considered an affected party in the original consent process.
Adams said the Environmental Protection Authority under its terms has specific enforcement functions "to assist and intervene" in an enforcement action of a council under the terms of the Resource Management Act.
Application to vary consent — to discharge contaminated water
Meanwhile, Taylorville Resource Park has applied to the West Coast Regional Council to vary its existing consent.
This includes to discharge contaminated water from the operational area of the site.
It has also applied to install a modified water catchment system for the site, and to simplify the acceptance of contaminated soil at the site.
An assessment of environmental effects prepared for Taylorville Resource Park by EHS Support said contaminated water was currently discharging "into a roadside drain" from the western edge of the site.
EHS said the current consent conditions required monitoring of surface water discharge and groundwater.
But it does not permit contamination of groundwater or surface water outside the site.
In addition, the current discharge did not meet the West Coast Regional Council Land and Water Plan permitted activity rule, EHS said.
"Investigations undertaken, together with analytical results … indicates the primary offsite discharge from the operational area of the site is via the groundwater spring/seep on the western side of the site."
Groundwater sampling
A summary of groundwater sampling outlined in the assessment noted concentrations of aluminium, copper and zinc in excess of the New Zealand Drinking Water Standard to the west of the site but this was "highly unlikely" to be linked to site operations.
Excess manganese was also detected in water sampling wells elsewhere on the site but again was not thought to be linked to the site's operation.
In summary, EHS said the current water discharge from the site did not have "adverse effects" on human health or the environment that were more than minor.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
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