Latest Orica leak shows a pollution control system in crisis
Wednesday, 28 September 2011 07:39
The release of toxic mercury vapour from the Orica Botany plant is another example of the state's pollution control system being in crisis, Total Environment Centre said today.
"We call on the Environment Protection Authority to reveal how many licence breaches there have been from all licensed premises in the state in the last 5 years. Now the focus is on licence breaches, we should understand it's not just Orica but such problems most likely happen all over the place. It's likely that pollution in excess of licence limits is standard practice and accepted by the authorities," said Jeff Angel, Executive Director of the Centre.
"As a consequence the environment for people living near chemical plants precincts and natural areas that are receiving waters not only accumulate toxic chemicals from the breaches but also from the pollution allowed by the licence. It's not acceptable. Standard practice should be to not breach the licence and be committed to even less pollution."
"The pollution control system is fossilised into allowing pollution rather than significantly reducing pollution. And licences are granted without any clear knowledge of the cumulative pollution impacts. The system needs major reform."
