A Mount Isa company has been fined $45,000 after pleading guilty to two charges of contravening a condition of an environmental authority in contravention of section 430(3) of the Environmental Protection Act 1994.
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The company Southern Cross Fertilisers is a subsidiary of Incitec Pivot and the Department of Environment and Science commenced prosecution proceedings against them after they released an estimated 50 kilolitres of sulphuric acid into the environment in April 2018.
The company holds an EA authorising mining, chemical manufacturing, extracting and screening in the Mount Isa region.
On May 21, the company pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Mount Isa Magistrates Court.
The company was ordered to pay $2164 in investigative costs and $1500 in legal fees. No conviction was recorded.
The Department said the court outcome shows they were committed to protecting the environment and enforcing Queensland's environmental laws.
"Releasing industrial chemicals like sulphuric acid can cause environmental harm. Companies must comply with the conditions of their EA to make sure their activities do not cause environmental harm," the Department said.
"As the environmental regulator, DES takes compliance seriously. The department sets clear standards for environmental performance and will take action when those standards are breached."
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
