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Environmental Guideline Value (EGV) database

The Environmental Guideline Value (EGV) database has been developed as a companion to Contaminated Land Management Guidelines No. 2: Hierarchy and Application in New Zealand of Environmental Guideline Values (Revised 2011) (referred to as CLMG No. 2). Users should ensure they are familiar with this document before using the database.


The EGV database provides the guideline values contained in the reference documents discussed in CLMG No. 2. The database allows rapid and user-friendly access to the guideline values, enabling users to search for values relating to specific contaminants, in a selected medium, for a selected receptor. In displaying the values the database maintains the hierarchy established in CLMG No. 2.


The EGV database was originally provided as a CD ROM attached to the back inside cover of CLMG No. 2. In response to user feedback the database was migrated online in May 2007.


Users are cautioned against using the EGV database simply as a series of look-up tables: it is important to be fully conversant with the derivation of the guideline values and users should refer to both CLMG No. 2 and the original reference documents. Furthermore, users should also be aware that some regional plans may contain provisions relating to the selection of specific criteria and should check this with the relevant regional council.

Revision of database

Users of the database should also be aware that some of the guideline values contained in the current EGV database may have been superseded. The Ministry is currently in the process of reviewing the guideline values to ensure they are up-to-date and relevant for users. However, the content of the current database was compiled in 2003 and is in need of revision. Users will need to either acknowledge this in their use of guideline values from the database, or confirm the status of the value with the organisation responsible for publishing it.


If you would like to be notified when a new version of the database is available on our website please email standards@mfe.govt.nz to be included on our contact database.


In addition, if you have any suggestions to revise, update, or correct guideline values or any ideas for general improvement of the database, please email these suggestions to: standards@mfe.govt.nz.

Instructions to download the database

There are two downloadable files:

  1. One is an .exe (executable) file that you can download and run directly.  Download it to your PC and then click to run it.  The application will ask for a directory (the default is the c:\temp directory) to un-bundle the files.  Once it has run, then go to the c:\temp directory (or wherever you choose to put the files), and double click on setup.exe (not setup.1st).  The system will then be installed.
  1. If downloading exe files is banned in your organisation for security reasons, then the second downloadable is a .zip file.  In this case, after the download open the zip file and use the extract button to extract the contents to a temporary location (e.g. c:\temp).  Then go to that directory and double click on setup.exe (not setup.1st).

Once the appropriate files have been installed, they can be deleted from the temp directory.

* Please note: the above databases are Windows XP compatible only

 

Disclaimer

The development of this database has been undertaken by Landcare Research under contract to the Ministry for the Environment. All best efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within this database at the time of publication. Landcare Research and the Ministry disclaim all liability for any consequence that might arise from its use.

 

Last updated: 19 October 2011