EPA annual report on aerial use of 1080

Media release

19 October 2011

EPA annual report on aerial use of 1080

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has released its fourth annual report on 1080, a substance it says is one of the most closely-monitored in New Zealand.

The report covers aerial 1080 operations conducted in the year ended December 2010 and research carried out to July 2011. It includes data gathered from mandatory post-operational reporting, from monitoring, and from reported incidents and public concerns.

There were 45 aerial operations in 2010, covering nearly 440,000 hectares.

The EPA's General Manager Hazardous Substances, Andrea Eng, said that although there were fewer operations than in previous years, this was more likely to be due to the cycle of pest control operations rather than changes in use patterns.

In 2010, 34 incidents and complaints about aerial 1080 operations were reported to the EPA (17 in 2009). All were investigated and six instances of breaches of the regulatory controls due to operator practice were found.

Sixteen breaches of the law were caused by actions of members of the public, some of which had the potential to create unacceptable risk to people and the environment, the report says.

Ms Eng said the report shows there has been progress in the last four years through research, development of industry standards and better communication, but that there is still room for improvement, as operator breaches are still occurring.

"The EPA will continue to monitor the use of 1080 and provide information on how the industry is performing," Ms Eng said.

ends

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