Energy giant AGL says it's committed to complying with all its environmental obligations after breaching coal ash monitoring regulations in the Upper Hunter.
The company advised the Environmental Protection Authority in January 2019 of errors discovered in the way it sampled and analysed coal ash from its Liddell and Bayswater Power Stations near Muswellbrook, used to gauge air qualty in the local area.
AGL has entered into an enforceable undertaking with the EPA agreeing to pay $82,000 towards the installation of air monitoring equipment in the Upper Hunter and $18,000 to the Singleton Shire Landcare Network towards the Col Fisher Park Weed Eradication Project. In addition, the company is required to pay the EPA's investigation and legal costs amounting to $37,356.
In a statement, an AGL spokesman says the company engaged consultants to conduct extensive sampling of it's coal ash and review the company's historical results. "We engaged another external expert, Environmental Risk Sciences Pty Ltd, to carry out a comprehensive human health and ecological risk assessment which confirmed that the beneficial reuse of coal ash did not pose any risks to human health and is not a concern to the environment", the spokesman said.
The company says it's since worked exclusively with the EPA to update their sampling plans and procedures to fully address the issues identified and has worked cooperatively with the Authority to ensure it complies with its obligations.
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| Bayswater Power Station |
