According to Nine News on 5 May 2012:
Fourteen serious "code red" environmental breaches have been discovered at facilities across NSW, during a state-wide audit of high-risk industries.
The audit, which covered 40 facilities across NSW, discovered 62 instances of non-compliance, of which 14 were considered "code red" or "high risk", the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) said.
On the same day The Sydney Morning Herald reported that:
The sites guilty of code red breaches include the Huntsman Surfactants Plant in Matraville, which the audit found was storing and handling hazardous chemicals without appropriate safeguards to capture any leaks or spills, ''thereby increasing the likelihood of polluting waters''.
The plant was also found not to be monitoring underground pipes, which transported effluent, for leaks. It was fined and a follow-up visit after the audit found all problems had been addressed.
The chemical manufacturer Pax, in Ingleburn, was also served with a penalty notice for its code red violation; a valve on part of the plant which was supposed to prevent the uncontrolled release of contaminated water was found not to be working. The valve was fixed immediately after the audit and the company was fined.
The most common serious breach was companies not having complete or up-to-date emergency response plans, including the Origin Energy plants in Port Botany and Kooragang Island...
The sites guilty of code red breaches include the Huntsman Surfactants Plant in Matraville, which the audit found was storing and handling hazardous chemicals without appropriate safeguards to capture any leaks or spills, ''thereby increasing the likelihood of polluting waters''.
The plant was also found not to be monitoring underground pipes, which transported effluent, for leaks. It was fined and a follow-up visit after the audit found all problems had been addressed.
The chemical manufacturer Pax, in Ingleburn, was also served with a penalty notice for its code red violation; a valve on part of the plant which was supposed to prevent the uncontrolled release of contaminated water was found not to be working. The valve was fixed immediately after the audit and the company was fined.
The most common serious breach was companies not having complete or up-to-date emergency response plans, including the Origin Energy plants in Port Botany and Kooragang Island...
This is a selection of convictions recorded by the NSW Environmental Protection Authority on its POEO Public Register over the last twelve months:
3/04/2012 BMG ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP PTY LTD Negligently dispose of waste in a manner that harms the environment, $100,000 fine. Ordered to pay investigation costs of $15,684.50
6/03/2012 COFFS HARBOUR HARDWOODS SALES PTY LTD Damage reserved land, $40,000 fine and, Pick plant that is part of a threatened species, $45,000 fine. Both counts - Ordered to undertake remediation works and to publicise details of the offence in the Coffs Harbour Advocate and Bellinger Star.
12/12/2011 AUSTAR COAL MINE PTY LTD Pollute waters. Ordered to pay $75,000 to the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority for the Mount View Corridor Threatened Species Habitat Rehabilitation Project. Also ordered to pay investigation costs of $17,269.13.
24/11/2011 BIO TORQUE FUELS PTY LTD Pollute waters, $500 fine. Ordered to pay investigation costs of $12,000 – plus two breaches licence conditions with fines totalling $1,500
11/05/2011 BIG RIVER GROUP PTY LTD Pollute waters, $67,000 fine. Ordered to pay investigation costs of $24,644.80
8/2/2011 XSTRATA MANGOOLA PTY LTD Pollute waters. Enforceable Undertaking
Orica Limited is yet to be prosecuted for a 1kg hexavalent chromium spill at its Kooragang Island plant in Newcastle or the arsenic, sulphuric acid and liquid ammonium nitrate spills at Newcastle and Port Kembla in 2011.
Orica Limited is yet to be prosecuted for a 1kg hexavalent chromium spill at its Kooragang Island plant in Newcastle or the arsenic, sulphuric acid and liquid ammonium nitrate spills at Newcastle and Port Kembla in 2011.
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