THE spate of chemical leaks from Orica factories are not isolated events, but fit a wider pattern of ongoing pollution at hundreds of sites, an analysis of the state’s environmental protection licences shows.
With the NSW government set to release its report this week into the hexavalent chromium leak near Stockton, a study by the Total Environment Centre has found dozens more breaches, including many that had gone unreported by companies until they were picked up by government audits.
It claims the current system of monitoring is ‘‘dysfunctional’’.
The government said it had a rigorous program of inspections at industrial sites. Most breaches of environmental protection licences – which set permitted pollution levels and require companies to monitor and report on any discharges – resulted in minimal environmental damage.
Newcastle Herald
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