NZ - Smoke cloud prosecution for fertiliser companyBy
Smoke cloud prosecution for fertiliser company
By MARTY SHARPE - The Dominion Post Saturday, 8 September 2007
Ravensdown Fertiliser is being prosecuted for discharging a large cloud of smoke from its Napier fertiliser plant that forced the evacuation of a nearby orchard. The cloud, which is believed to have come from the acid plant on November 23 last year, blanketed nearby orchards and caused respiratory problems in a Crop and Food scientist.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council granted the plant, at Awatoto, a 14-year consent to continue discharging contaminants into the air in May.
The term of consent disappointed local growers, who had submitted it should be no longer than five years. The company had requested a 20-year consent.
Opponents claimed fluoride and acid deposits affected properties within three kilometres of the plant.
The first stage of the consent hearings was held from December 4 to 7.
Brendan Downey, a member of the growers' group and owner of an orchard a kilometre from plant, said: "A big black plume came out of the acid stack that sort of floated like an inversion layer across the area here. I had two or three workers on the block. When I called council they told me to evacuate the block.
"The ironic thing is I had some Crop and Food guys on the block at the time doing leaf sampling on behalf of Ravensdown and Hawke's Bay Regional Council and I had to track them down and tell them to get out for their own safety," Mr Downey said. "The cloud was about 16 foot (five metres) off the ground, and covered the greater area of 150 acres (60 hectares). It was just hovering over the whole block then swung out toward Napier."
Crop and Food scientist Bruce Searle suffered a sore throat and coughing after the incident. The plant's manager, Kevin Gettins, said the company intended to plead not guilty in the Environment Court in November to a charge of discharging contaminants to the air.
The charge carries a maximum fine of $200,000 or jail
By MARTY SHARPE - The Dominion Post Saturday, 8 September 2007
Ravensdown Fertiliser is being prosecuted for discharging a large cloud of smoke from its Napier fertiliser plant that forced the evacuation of a nearby orchard. The cloud, which is believed to have come from the acid plant on November 23 last year, blanketed nearby orchards and caused respiratory problems in a Crop and Food scientist.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council granted the plant, at Awatoto, a 14-year consent to continue discharging contaminants into the air in May.
The term of consent disappointed local growers, who had submitted it should be no longer than five years. The company had requested a 20-year consent.
Opponents claimed fluoride and acid deposits affected properties within three kilometres of the plant.
The first stage of the consent hearings was held from December 4 to 7.
Brendan Downey, a member of the growers' group and owner of an orchard a kilometre from plant, said: "A big black plume came out of the acid stack that sort of floated like an inversion layer across the area here. I had two or three workers on the block. When I called council they told me to evacuate the block.
"The ironic thing is I had some Crop and Food guys on the block at the time doing leaf sampling on behalf of Ravensdown and Hawke's Bay Regional Council and I had to track them down and tell them to get out for their own safety," Mr Downey said. "The cloud was about 16 foot (five metres) off the ground, and covered the greater area of 150 acres (60 hectares). It was just hovering over the whole block then swung out toward Napier."
Crop and Food scientist Bruce Searle suffered a sore throat and coughing after the incident. The plant's manager, Kevin Gettins, said the company intended to plead not guilty in the Environment Court in November to a charge of discharging contaminants to the air.
The charge carries a maximum fine of $200,000 or jail
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