Module 3 Pop Questions Flashcards
A certificate of compliance is deemed to be a resource consent issued subject to any conditions specified in an applicable national environmental standard or plan, and subject to the existing use provisions of the RMA.
True or False?
True
A person may discharge water into water without a resource consent unless the water being discharged has contaminants in it.
True or False?
False
A quarry has discontinued its activity for the last 3 years. The new district plan, which has been operative for 5 years, prohibits quarries but the quarry owners assert that they have existing use rights as they applied to the council for an extension 18 months ago and the territorial authority granted a 2 year extension. Do they?
Select one:
a. No, under s10(1)
b. Yes, under s9(3)(a)
c. No, under s20A
d. Yes, under s10(2)
The correct answer is: Yes, under s10(2)
In which 3 of the following situations must an application for a resource consent be publicly notified, even if there is a rule or a national enviromental standard that precludes public notification?
Select one or more:
a. The application is for a non complying activity
b. The consent authority has not decided whether or not to give public or limited notification when the deadline for the applicant to provide further information expires and the applicant has not provided the information
c. The consent authority decides that special circumstances exist
d. The applicant requests public notification of the application
The correct answers are:
The consent authority decides that special circumstances exist,
The consent authority has not decided whether or not to give public or limited notification when the deadline for the applicant to provide further information expires and the applicant has not provided the information,
The applicant requests public notification of the application.
Which of the following applications must be publicly notified?
Select one:
a. Application for a subdivision consent
b. Application for a land use consent
c. Application for a coastal permit for a restricted coastal activity
d. Application for a discharge permit
see s 117(5)
The correct answer is Application for a coastal permit for a restricted coastal activity
If the Minister calls in a matter of national significance then a current, former or retired Environment Court Judge or a retired High Court Judge must be one of the decision-makers.
True or False?
A called in matter is decided by the Environment Court or a board of inquiry. A board of inquiry MAY include a current, former or retired Environment Court Judge or a retired High Court Judge - sees 149J(3). this changed in April 2017
The correct answer is: False
If an application for a controlled activity has been returned as incomplete, and a proposed plan is notified which makes the activity a discretionary activity before the application is resubmitted, the resubmitted application must be:
Select one
a. Treated as an application for a discretionary activity
b. Treated as an application for a controlled activity
c. Treated as an application for a controlled activity or a discretionary activity, as decided by the applicant.
d. The application is treated as an application for a controlled activity or a discretionary activity, as decided by the consent authority
The correct answer is. Treated as an application for a discretionary activity
A consent authority considering an application by an existing consent holder for a new consent for the existing activity
Select one or more:
a. Must have regard to the matters under s104(1)
b Must have regard to the value of the investment by the existing consent holder if s124 or s 165ZH(1)
(c) applies
c. Must have regard to the term of the existing consents
d. May have regard to the value of the investment of the existing consent holder if s124 or s 165ZH(1)(c) applies
e. Must have regard to the number of infringment notices and abatement notices served on the existing *
consent holder
see s 104(1) and (2A) RMA
The correct ansivers are:
Must have regard to the matters under s104(1),
Must have regard to the value of the investment by the existing consent holder if s124 or s 165ZH(1)(c) applies
Match each of the following types of resource consents with the maximum period for which the consents can be granted.
Discharge permit, 35 years or unlimited?
Coastal permit for any use except reclamation, 35 years or unlimited?
Water permit, 35 years or unlimited?
Subdivision permit, 35 years or unlimited?
Coastal permit for a reclamation, 35 years or unlimited?
Land use consent, 35 years or unlimited?
The correct answer is. Discharge permit - 35 years, Coastal permit for any use except reclamation - 35 years, Water permit - 35 years, Subdivision permit - Unlimited, Coastal permit for a reclamation , Unlimited, Land use consent - Unlimited
A consent authority may grant a resource consent for a non-complying activity only if it is satisfied that the adverse effects of the activity on the environment (other than any effect to which s104(3)(a)(ii applies) will be minor:
Select one:
a. Only if the application is for an activity that will not be contrary to the objectives and policies of any relevant plan(s) or proposed plan(s)
b. And the application is for an activity that will not be contrary to the objectives and policies of any relevant plan(s) or proposed plan(s)
C. Or the application is for an activity that will not be contrary to the objectives and policies of any relevant plan(s) or proposed plan(s)
The correct answer is, Or the application is for an activity that will not be contrary to the objectives and policies of any relevant plan(s) or proposed plan(S)
A consent authority can choose not to hold a public hearing on a resource consent application unless (hint- more than one answer is correct):
Select one or more:
a. The applicant or any submitter requests a hearing to be held
b. The resource consent was not notified
c. The Minister for the Environment requests a hearing to be held
d. The consent authority considers it necessary
The correct answers are:
The applicant or any submitter requests a hearing to be held
The consent authority considers it necessary
Section 16 imposes a duty to avoid unreasonable noise but does not apply to activities being carried out in any premises. True or False?
Section 16 imposes a duty to avoid unreasonable noise which applies to all activities being carried out in any premises, on any water bodies and in the coastal marine area; not just any premises.
The correct answer is False
A person may discharge smoke from a chimney in a residence without a resource consent unless
Select one or more:
a. A regional plan has defined industrial and trade premises as including a residence
b. A district plan rule requires a resource consent for a discharge from a residential chimney
c. A regional plan rule requires a resource consent for a discharge from a residential chimney
d. The discharge is from an open fire
The correct answer is. A regional plan rule requires a resource consent for a discharge from a residential chimney
In general, existing land uses contrary to a rule in a distric plan or a proposed district plan may be continued, if three conditions are met. What are they?
Select one or more:
a. If the existing use has not been discontinued for a continuous period of more than six months after the rule in the plan became operative or the proposed plan was notified, unless paragraphs (a) and (b) of s10(2) are satisfied
b. If the existing use was lawfully established before the rule became operative or the proposed plan
was notified
c. If the existing use has not been discontinued for a continuous period of more than twelve months after the rule in the plan became operative or the proposed plan was notified, unless paragraphs (a) and (b) of s10(2) are satisfied
d. If the use causes no more than minor effects in character, intensity and scale to those which existed before the rule became operative or the proposed plan was notified
e. If the effects of the use are the same or similar in character, intensity and scale to those which existed before the rule became operative or the proposed plan was notified
f. If the existing use was lawfully established two months prior to the rule becoming operative or the proposed plan being notified
The correct answers are:
If the effects of the use are the same or similar in character, intensity and scale to those which existed before the rule became operative or the proposed plan was notified,
If the existing use has not been discontinued for a continuous period of more than twelve months after the rule in the plan became operative or the proposed plan was notified, unless paragraphs (a) and (b) of s10(2) are satisfied
If the existing use was lawfully established before the rule became operative or the proposed plan was notified
A consent authority must publicly notify a resource consent application if (hint- more than 1 answer is correct)
Select one or more:
a. Special circumstances exist in relation to the application
b. A person notified under section 95B does not consent to the activity
c. The application is for a consent for a number of activities and a rule precludes notification in relation to each activity
d. Section 95C applies after a request for further information
The correct answers are:
Special circumstances exist in relation to the application
Section 95C applies after a request for further information
After an application has been lodged with a local authority the Minister may call in the matter if (more than one answer may be required)
Select one or more:
a. The Minister considers that the matter is a proposal of national significance and the Minister decides at his or her own initiative to call the matter in
b. The Minister considers that the matter is a proposal of national significance and the local authority requests the Minister to call the matter in
c. The local authority and the applicant both request the Minister to call the matter in
d The EPA requests the Minister to call the matter in
e. The Minister considers that the matter is a proposal of national significance and the applicant has requested the Minister to call the matter in
see s 142(1) RMA
The correct answers are:
The Minister considers that the matter is a proposal of national significance and the Minister decides at his or her own initiative to call the matter in
The Minister considers that the matter is a proposal of national significance and the applicant has requested the Minister to call the matter in
The Minister considers that the matter is a proposal of national significance and the local authority requests the Minister to call the matter in
Which of the following matters must a consent authority have regard to under s104 of the
RMA when considering a resource consent application?
Select one or more:
a. Relevant planning instruments under s104(1)(b)
b. Any actual or potential effects on the environment of allowing the activity
c. Any submissions on the application received by the consent authority
d. The potential effects of the application on all parties, whether or not they have given written approval
e. Trade competition issues
f. The sustainable allocation of resources
g. Any other matter the consent authority consides relevant and reasonably necessary to determine the application
Note that s104(1) commences “When considering an application for a resource consent and any submissions received, the consent authority must, subject to Part 2, have regard to
The correct answers are:
Any actual or potential effects on the environment of allowing the activity
Relevant planning instruments under s104(1)(b)
Any other matter the consent authority consides relevant and reasonably necessary to determine the application
Match each type of activity with the correct discretion that the consent authority has to issue a consent for that activity.
Activities:
Controlled activities
Permitted Activity
Discretionary ( not restricted)
Non-complying activity
Discretionary (restricted)
Discretions:
The consent authority’s discretion to grant or refuse to grant consent, and impose conditions, is limited to the particular matters over which the consent authority has retained discretion.
The consent authority has discretion to grant or refuse a consent but it can only grant consent where at least one of the s104D(1) preconditions are met, Discretionary (restricted)
The consent authority has a general discretion to grant or refuse a consent, subject to ss104B, Non-complying activity
A cetificate of compliance can be issued by the consent authority if the activity meets the plan requirements,
The consent authority must grant the consent (except where s106 applies) but may impose conditions on the consent under s108 for matters over which it has reserved control in its plan or proposed plan, Permitted activity
Note that s107A provides that a consent authority must not grant a resource consent to do something that will, or is likely to, have a significant adverse effect on a recognised customary activity, unless written approval is given for the proposed activity by the holder of a relevant customary rights order. This may prevent the grant of an application for a resource consent for a controlled activity.
The correct answer is:
Controlled activity - The consent authority must grant the consent (except where s106 applies) but may impose conditions on the consent under s108 for matters over which it has reserved control in its plan or proposed plan
Permitted activity -> A cetificate of compliance can be issued by the consent authority if the activity meets the plan requirements
Discretionary (not restricted) - The consent authority has a general discretion to grant or refuse a consent, subject to ss104B
Non-complying activity - The consent authority has discretion to grant or refuse a consent but it can only grant consent where at least one of the s104D(1) preconditions are met
Discretionary (restricted) -> The consent authority’s discretion to grant or refuse to grant consent, and impose conditions, is limited to the particular matters over which the consent authority has retained discretion
After considering an application for a resource consent for a discretionar activity (that is not a restricted discretionary activity), a consent authority:
Select one:
a. May grant or refuse the consent, and (if granted) may impose conditions under section 108
b. May grant or refuse the consent, but (if granted) may not impose conditions
c. May grant or refuse the consent, and (if granted) may impose conditions only in respect of those matters over which it has reserved control
d. Must refuse the consent
The correct answer is: May grant or refuse the consent, and (if granted) may impose conditions under section 108
The RMA allows for two or more resource consent applications by the same person for the same activity to be heard together in a combined hearing. True or False?
The RMA does allow for two or more resource consent applications by the same person for the same activity to be heard together in a combined hearing under s103
The correct answer is: True
Match the local authority with the activities for which it has the responsibility of issuing resource consents.
(Authorities)
Local authorities
Regional authority
Territorial authority
(Activities)
The control of activities in relation to the surface water in rivers and lakes
The control of land for the maintenance of the quantity of water in water bodies and coastal water
Avoidance or mitigation of natural hazards
correct answer is:
Local authorities - Avoidance or mitigation of natural hazards,
Regional authority - The control of land for the maintenance of the quantity of water in water bodies and coastal water,
Territorial authority -, The control of activities in relation to the surface water in rivers and lakes
All activities in the coastal marine area (as defined in s2) listed under s12 are prohibited, unless permitted by a national environmental standard, a rule in a regional coastal plan, or proposed regional coastal plan, a resource consent or s20A. True or False?
All activities in the coastal marine area listed under s12 are prohibited, unless permitted by a rule in a regional coastal plan, a resource consent or s20A
The correct answer is. True