The environmental watchdog will take no action against BlueScope Steel for not disclosing an explosion at Port Kembla steelworks.
The Environment Protection Authority made the decision after wrapping up its investigation into a gas blast that rocked the No 4 coke battery on October 18th 2011.
It sent pieces of the coke oven lids flying and left a large hole in the roof of the battery. The subsequent investigation included a site inspection by EPA officers, analysis of weather, review of video surveillance footage and air quality data and a written incident report from BlueScope.
The EPA found that while the explosion was minor and caused no harm to health or the environment, BlueScope breached a condition of its pollution licence that requires plant and equipment to be maintained and operated properly and efficiently at all times to protect the environment.
A spokeswoman has confirmed that the EPA will take no further action aside from listing the breach on its website.
The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage was furious it found out about the blast by reading the Illawarra Mercury, with deputy chief executive Mr Greg Sullivan describing BlueScope's failure to report as totally unacceptable.
Under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act, companies must notify regulatory authorities of incidents where actual or potential harm to the health or safety of humans or the environment is caused or threatened.
BlueScope maintained the blast did not warrant reporting because it would not have been detected by the public and there were no off site impacts.
The EPA investigation has agreed but warned it would have been in BlueScope's interest to notify the authorities.
The spokeswoman said that "This is because there is growing community interest in industry providing timely and relevant information on emissions, however small, to ensure the public has confidence in the ability of industry to control them."
BlueScope could not be contacted for comment, but the EPA said the company was revising its notification protocols.
(Sourced from www.illawarramercury.com.au)
