ORICA’s Kooragang Island plant has been fined $15,000 for expelling licenced limits for suspended solids and heavy metals in a March discharge.
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NSW Environment Protection Authority director Hunter Karen Marler said the likely cause was a build-up and expulsion of algae from within a pipe.
The incident occurred on March 8 and was reported the following day.
“When the algae was released, it’s likely sediments were also dislodged, resulting in concentrations of suspended solids, zinc and arsenic in the effluent higher than the levels permitted on Orica’s environment protection licence,” Ms Marler said.
“While there is no evidence of environmental harm on this occasion, licensees must keep their discharges within licenced limits so that waterways are protected.”
The company was previously fined $1500 in October 2013 and has been cautioned twice.
The most recent caution was in December 2016.
Anyone with information about a pollution incident in the Newcastle area should call the EPA’s Environment Line on 131555.