EPA investigates another Orica incident

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is investigating yet another incident at Orica’s Kooragang Island ammonia plant. Orica self-reported the incident when it noticed a pressure valve in its ammonia storage plant had released.

The  relief valve in the ammonia storage plant had lifted prematurely as a result of a mechanical malfunction, well before the alarm’s trigger point in this section of the plant. Orica operations personnel took immediate action to reset the valve.

The event resulted in an ammonia vapour release, but Orica advised the EPA that there was no detectable odour and there have been no reports of impacts to workers, neighbours or the community. No complaints have been made to the EPA.

EPA Chief Environmental Regulator Mark Gifford said that the event is unlikely to have any off-site impacts.

“This was a short-duration, ground-level venting,” Gifford said. “At this point, the EPA understands that the incident resulted in a small amount of ammonia being released.”

The EPA attended the Orica site and has asked for a full incident report. Fire and Rescue NSW was also alerted to the release but did not need to attend the site.

Orica says the incident is unrelated to another incident that occurred at the ammonia plant on 11 March 2013.