The Ministry of the Environment is racing to get its new approvals system in place.
The publicly accessible database of environmental approvals is being expanded; improvements to the search function are apparently also to come.
September 2012 is the target for full implementation of new approvals process and online support systems. Part of the MOE’s objective is to reduce the number of approval applications that it must process. This September, some online systems will be available to support environmental compliance approval and registrations.
However, the Ministry is finding it quite challenging to write appropriate “permit by rule” regulations for entire sectors. For example, the proposed registration system for printers will only capture a portion of the printing industry, those who use a certain range of common, but up to date, equipment.