Orica guilty of pollution breaches

Chemical company Orica has admitted to a series of pollution breaches, including allowing toxic ammonium nitrate into the sky above Newcastle.

Appearing in the NSW Land and Environment Court on Friday charged over four incidents, the company pleaded guilty to breaching its environment protection licence after a release of ammonium nitrate from its Kooragang Island plant on 22 March 2011. The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) said it was caused by a blockage which allowed the chemical to waft into the air.

"It's alleged that the discharge lasted for around 40 minutes and caused nearby workers at Mayfield Wharf to cease work and take shelter indoors," the EPA said in a statement.

Orica has also admitted three other breaches, including discharging nitric acid from an eroded pipe into the air and water at Kooragang Island. Ammonia gas also was released from a pipe at Kooragang Island in June 2011, when maintenance workers hit it with a jackhammer; and in August 2011, the toxic chemical chromium VI was released into the air with steam at Kooragang Island.

"It's alleged that the steam was deposited over the premises and the neighbouring suburb of Stockton, Newcastle," the EPA said.

All four matters are being heard together and the case was adjourned until 27 July. The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of $1 million.

Source: AAP