EPA orders Orica to clean up arsenic in groundwater

Orica has been ordered to commence the process of cleaning up arsenic-contaminated groundwater at the company’s Kooragang Island site. The order was issued by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

The groundwater beneath Orica’s Kooragang Island site is significantly contaminated with arsenic, which was historically used in ammonia production. Orica dealt with the principal source of arsenic contamination in 2005, shortly after it took control of the site.

“Since then the residual contamination in groundwater has been the focus of significant investigations and remediation trials by Orica to determine its extent, impact and to identify appropriate remediation options,” said EPA Director of Hazardous Incidents and Environmental Health Craig Lamberton.

“These activities have been regulated under the Contaminated Land Management Act by the EPA,” Lamberton said.

The Management Order was issued to begin the clean-up stage of the remediation, with an initial workplan detailing the specific remediation methods due to the EPA by the end of October 2014.

The approved remediation approach must be completed by the end of 2017.

The EPA’s order requires Orica to implement works to prevent further migration of contaminated groundwater off the site. The order also requires community consultation, groundwater monitoring, an updated environmental management plan and an independent validation report on implementation of the remediation technology.