Environment Canterbury is responsible for managing the discharge of contaminants to the environment and the investigation of land for the purposes of identifying and monitoring contaminated land (under the Resource Management Act 1991). Environment Canterbury contributes to preventing and mitigating any adverse effects of waste and specific hazardous substances (under the Resource Management Act 1991). As a regional council it also has the ability to enforce the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO). Environment Canterbury is the lead agency for the discharge of contaminants to the environment and, as a joint lead agency, works collaboratively with territorial authorities, property owners and businesses on the management of hazardous substances.