| Queensland to get new Chemical Incident Environmental Advisory Service
Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said $0.5 million had been allocated in the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2007-08 Budget and ongoing to improve the ability of the EPA to provide technical advice on the environment effects of chemical incidents to agencies managing emergency incidents involving hazardous materials. “This enables the EPA to provide expert advice on the effects of chemical incidents at any time of the day or night anywhere in the state,” Ms Nelson-Carr said. “Over the past two years, there have been 35 incidents such as fires, accidents or explosions which emergency service agencies have attended or sought advice about environmental impacts. “The new Chemical Incident Advisory Service will enable the EPA to respond immediately to requests from emergency services for support at incidents and to provide specialist advice about the potential environmental impacts. “EPA officers will also help emergency services and other agencies to proactively develop plans and procedures to mitigate the potential environmental effects of chemical incidents. “This will help agencies to minimise the risk to property, health and the environment from any major chemical incidents,” Ms Nelson-Carr said. The Environmental Protection Agency will begin recruiting specialist officers as soon as possible with the service expected to commence toward the end of the year. The Environmental Protection Agency also has access to $0.3 million as required to reimburse local governments for cleaning up serious pollution when the person or company responsible cannot be pursued, for example if the offender cannot be identified or found, or if the company is bankrupt. Reimbursement for these so called ‘orphan contamination incidents’ where there has been serious environmental harm will be available to councils for incidents that occur after 1 July 2007.
•Date: 7th June 2007 • Region: Australia •Type: Article •Topic: DR general
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