INDUSTRY IN GIPPSLAND UNDER WATCHFUL EYE OF EPA

9 April 2010

Industry in Gippsland will be under the watchful eye of EPA Victoria officers in coming weeks.

For two days in mid-April, EPA officers will inspect over 20 waste management and industrial sites in the region to assess compliance with EPA licences and notice conditions.

EPA’s director of client services Wayne Robins said compliance checks were an essential part of environmental regulation.

“This time around EPA is casting its net more widely to include companies which have recently received a Pollution Abatement or Clean Up Notice,” he said.

Industries to be targeted include landfills, meatworks, dairy factories, composting facilities and wastewater treatment plants.

EPA will inspect waste transport certificates and management procedures, waste containment and treatment systems, environmental management practices, stormwater protection, litter control and general housekeeping.

Mr Robins said the checks would send a strong message to industry to get their house in order or risk possible enforcement action for non-compliance issues.

“EPA has had some surprising results from similar checks in south west Victoria so it will be interesting to see how industry performs in Gippsland.”

EPA licences cover the actual operation of the site and set operating, waste discharge limits, and waste acceptance conditions. For more information visit www.epa.vic.gov.au