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August 24, 2010
Wagerup Dust Prosecution
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Alcoa today entered a plea of ‘guilty’ for failing to ensure visible dust did not cross the boundary of the Wagerup Refinery, causing a breach of its environmental licence (24 August 2010).
This relates to an incident on 14th May 2006 that occurred during high winds, when visible dust blew from the refinery’s bauxite residue area.
There is no charge of pollution.
Alcoa regrets the incident, and accepts responsibility for the license breach.
Alcoa today submitted to the court that no health symptoms resulted from the dust incident.
Background information
The 2006 incident occurred while Alcoa was completing a $39 million upgrade of sprinkler systems on its refinery residue areas, including a $17.4 million upgrade at Wagerup, in accordance with a dust management commitment to the DEC. That upgrade has now been completed.
While visible dust blew from the refinery premises, dust monitoring equipment prescribed by the Company’s Environmental License measured dust levels within the license limits.
Media contact: Michaela Southby 0400 127 427
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