02.51 am, Friday May 25 2012

Spike in sulphur dioxide from Orica plant

15:48 AEDT Sat Feb 11 2012
VIEWS: 0
| FLOCKS: 0
| comments0 comments so far
Also on
Fake filmTeen suspended over bullying vid No chuteDaredevil leaps from helicopter Tipping overTruck filmed losing control 'Too hot'Woman 'fired for good looks' confessionKelly cites Scientology bunny timeKate Upton hits the bikini beach

Elevated levels of sulphur dioxide have been reported leaking from Orica's Port Kembla plant on the NSW south coast.

The chemical giant said it recorded increased amounts of sulphur dioxide (SO2) from its Spent Acid Regeneration Plant (SARP) at Port Kembla on Friday night.

The SO2 spiked at around 3000 parts per million (ppm) and stayed above the 1000ppm limit for approximately 15 minutes, Orica said in a statement on Saturday.

"This averages as a release of 595ppm and does not constitute a breach of license," it said.

The Environmental Protection Authority said it was following up the reasons behind the spiked reading with Orica but said there were no health or environmental impacts.

In December, the company confirmed there had been a "contained leakage" of about 3000 to 4000 litres of sulphuric acid from the same facility.

Meanwhile, its ammonia plant on Kooragang Island, near Newcastle, was reopened earlier this month after it was shut in August because toxic hexavalent chromium fumes had leaked near more than 70 homes in the beachside suburb of Stockton.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has warned Orica he will close its Kooragang Island plant if there are any more leaks.

 

Most popular

 Baby died in hot car as mum slept: courtThe 21-year-old Melbourne mother charged with manslaughter over the death of her baby daughter in a hot car has been granted bail.
 Child prostitution ring ran for 2 yearsMore victims may come forward and more arrests are expected from an investigation into a Sydney child prostitution ring.
 UK girl with bow hairstyle banned from photoAn English four-year-old was banned from appearing in her annual school photograph because her hair had been styled in a bow.
 Bear attacks Canadian man on toiletA 65-year-old man has told how he was dragged off a toilet by a black bear while on a camping trip in Canada.
 Drowned chef's friends 'will suffer entire lives'A young Melbourne man who drowned after jumping off a pier early this morning had been drinking with friends who convinced him to take the fatal plunge.
 Brisbane man collapses after crashing MonaroA Brisbane man collapsed after seeing his pride and joy, a Holden Monaro, burst into flames after colliding with a traffic island this morning.
 Unexploded bomb found in Ballarat museumVisitors to a country Victorian museum have been evacuated after the discovery of an unexploded World War I egg bomb.
 Wife caught husband in bed with teenA man's drug-fuelled relationship with a child was exposed when his wife caught them in bed together, a court has heard.
 Mum finds penis drawing inside burger boxA Queensland mother who received a Hungry Jack's burger with a crudely drawn penis inside its packaging said she was so disgusted it left her feeling physically ill.
 Grieving pit bull stays by dead friendA heartbreaking photo has been posted online of a grieving pit bull staying by the side of its friend after it was hit by a car on a US street.
Be our fan on Facebook
Most Recommended
You need the latest version of Flash Player.
Enjoy the most vivid content on the web
Watch video without extra features
Interact with applications on your favourite sites
Upgrade now

page complete