NSW:Another leak halts Orica restart operation

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2011
NSW:Another leak halts Orica restart operation

Embattled chemical giant Orica has again halted operations at its Newcastle plant in
NSW after yet another leak.

The Environmental Protection Authority says about 20 litres of weak ammonium nitrate
solution overflowed from a tank during pumping operations at the Kooragang Island plant
this afternoon.

It comes just one day after an EPA-led committee announced it had allowed Orica to
resume some of its operations, following a hexavalent chromium leak over nearby Stockton
in August.

The EPA says the latest incident is a combination of human error and system failure
after the auto cut-off system on the tank failed and a plant supervisor didn't notice.

A spokeswoman for Orica says there's no public risk to health as a result of the latest leak.

AAP RTV ih/af/wf

KEYWORD: ORICA (SYDNEY)

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