http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-us/...coa-with-clean-up-notice-for-point-henry-site
EPA issues Alcoa with clean-up notice for Point Henry site
1 Apr 2015
Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has issued Alcoa of Australia with a statutory clean-up notice requiring it to manage land and groundwater contamination at the Point Henry site into the next phase of shutdown and preparation for future use.
Requirements of the clean-up notice include:
- Completing an environmental site assessment of extent of contamination in soil and groundwater on and from the premises by 1 December 2016.
- If any contamination that poses an unacceptable risk to the environment is found during the course of the environment site assessment, Alcoa must develop and implement a clean-up plan to manage that contamination.
- Engaging an EPA-appointed Environmental Auditor to commence environmental auditing of the premises, to inform the next phase of clean-up at the site.
EPA CEO Nial Finegan said the use of the environmental audit system would ensure the clean-up was done in an open and transparent manner to allow the community to have confidence in their environment.
Alcoa is also required to provide quarterly updates on its progress throughout this period.
“While EPA recognises that the remediation and future use of the site is of great local community and state-wide interest, the clean-up process will take time and needs to be thorough and well planned so that the site can provide important environmental and community benefits for the region into the future."
“EPA will work with Alcoa, through the use of its regulatory tools, to ensure Alcoa is held to account and that the clean-up is completed in a timely manner.”
(20min delay)