It is reported that Sims Metal has been fined USD 30,000 for an August 26th 2008 scrap metal fire.

The Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management laid charges against Sims Metal for failing to properly mitigate fire risks on site.

Sims Metal pleaded guilty to the charges of breaching sections 440 and 435 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994, in unlawfully causing an environmental nuisance and contravening a condition of a development approval. It pleaded guilty to all charges and was fined on September 30th 2009 in the Brisbane Magistrates Court.

The original USD 60,000 penalty was reduced to USD 30,000 because Sims Metal had already paid USD 30,000 for DERM to prepare an industry wide best practice guide for dealing with stockpiles at metal recycling plants.

The 2008 fire lasted more than 24 hours and discharged dense black smoke across Brisbane for 36 hours.

(Sourced from www.metalworker.com.au)