Homes around Botany Industrial Park to be tested for mercury impacts from Orica's former ChlorAlkali plant
Residents living within a 1.25km radius of Botany Industrial Park will have their land tested for potential mercury impacts.
City East
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Residents living within a 1.25km radius of Botany Industrial Park will have their land tested for potential mercury impacts from Orica's former ChlorAlkali plant.
The NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) launched its Orica Mercury Independent Review in January last year, and engaged CDM Smith to investigate historical mercury emissions in September.
CDM Smith's report found there was a low risk of off-site soil contamination, but recommended a testing program to alleviate community concerns.
It recommends soil and vapour sampling at residential and commercial properties and parks in the vicinity of the Botany Industrial Park, including properties of residents who have shown concern about mercury at their property.
Consent for testing will be sought in the coming months.
A public meeting with the EPA and CDM Smith will be held at the Hillsdale Community Centre on Wednesday, February 12, at 6.30pm, to discuss the findings.
The EPA had committed to doing soil sampling as Stage 2 of the review, and NSW EPA chief environmental regulator Mark Gifford said he expected this to be completed around July.
Lynda Newman, a community representative of the Review Steering Panel, said the public meeting was the only opportunity the community had to speak directly to the consultants.
"If you have information or misgivings or questions you have to be a part of the meeting," she said.
■ From 1945 to 2002 Orica operated a ChlorAlkali Plant at Botany Industrial Park (BIP)
■ Unlike the plant that has been at BIP since 2002, and uses an environmentally-friendly technology, the former plant used mercury cell technology
■ Since 2010 Orica has spent $33 million on remediation activities, leaving a current provision balance of about $14 million
■ CDM Smith's report will be released this week
Visit epa.nsw.gov.au
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