Annual report 2006-2007 - Taranaki Regional Council

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In the 2006-2007 year, there was one incident recorded by the Council that was
associated with Egmont Tanneries. This is detailed in 4.4.1.1, but in short, an odour
complaint was received and investigation did not confirm the presence of offensive
or objectionable odour beyond the boundary.
4.6 Discussion
4.6.1 Discussion of plant performance
In environmental terms, the tannery exercised a good standard of management in
terms of controlling odour emissions. At the times of inspection, although some
localised odours were noted on occasion, areas where there is potential for odour
generation were kept sufficiently clean to avoid the occurrence of noticeable odour at
the site boundary.
There was good management in relation to the burial pits, as they were effectively
disused due to the change in activities at the tannery.
Licensed discharges from the stormwater drain to the Kahouri Stream tributary were
found to be within the conditions on the discharge permit.
Special condition 16 of consent 4238 requires that
“Prior to 1 May of each year, the consent holder shall provide for the Chief
Executive, Taranaki Regional Council, a written agreement for the reception of
skinned carcasses from the tannery. In addition, the consent holder shall provide a
statement of capacity for the reception of skinned carcasses at an alternative site”.
As the tannery is presently not operating, this agreement is not required. However,
should the tannery commence skinning animals, then such an agreement will be
required.
Special condition 11 of consent 4238 requires that:
‘The consent holder shall provide an operations and maintenance manual,
within three months of the granting of this consent, to the satisfaction of the
Chief Executive, Taranaki Regional Council.’
An operations and maintenance manual was received in July 2004 and after a
number of amendments it was accepted as satisfactory on 19 July 2004.
A letter from the Consent holder was received in June 2005 stating that the Company
was no longer operating as a tannery, and as a result, no longer generated any
wastewater. The Company now only receives hides which are stored in water tight
containers and sent to Hastings for tanning.
4.6.2 Environmental effects of exercise of consents
Chemical sampling of the Kahouri Stream below the Egmont Tanneries discharge
showed levels of zinc below the concentration criteria set by US Environmental
Protection Agency for the protection of aquatic life in waters of the hardness found
in the Kahouri Stream.