NSW Explosives Firm Reported 265 Breaches Of Toxins Laws In 10 Yrs, Never Investigated

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THE explosives company responsible for leaking cancer-causing chemicals over Newcastle had 265 reported breaches in 10 years for its pollution licences for two NSW sites but has never had to have a mandatory environmental audit. Orica, and its predecessor ICI, had 177 reported breaches at the company's Matraville plant near Botany Bay and 88 breaches at Kooragang Island in Newcastle.

Investigations by The Sun-Herald have revealed there is no official ''trigger point'' to force companies such as Orica that commit consistent pollution or ''non-compliance'' offences to submit to top-level scrutiny by the NSW environmental watchdog, the Office of Environment and Heritage

''It depends on the judgment of the regional manager,'' the OEH's deputy chief executive, Greg Sullivan, said. A mandatory environmental audit can take up to two years and must be paid for by the company under investigation.

Since 1999, when the present laws were introduced, Mr Sullivan's office has ordered just eight audits. Orica was not included in them. Orica did not respond to questions about the number of breaches at its two sites. But the company released an independent engineer's report on the leak of hexavalent chromium at its plant last month which recommends six changes to its operating procedures. Orica spokeswoman Nicole Ekert said it was acting on the recommendations.

EDIT

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/big-polluter-goes-unchecked-20110917-1kf0p.html

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