Port Pirie lead pollution – EPA must act to protect kids

03/06/10 11:00 am

The failure of the Port Pirie lead smelter operators over many years to limit harmful emissions is an absolute disgrace, according to Greens MLC and environmental lawyer, Mark Parnell.

“Whilst the primary responsibility rests with Nyrstar, the State’s pollution watchdog, the EPA, needs to take decisive action and set binding pollution reduction conditions with severe penalties for non-compliance. If the company has already breached its pollution licence, then the EPA needs to come clean with the action it is taking to ensure compliance”, said Mr Parnell.

“The EPA needs to do much more than writing to Nyrstar “expressing extreme concern” about the rise in blood lead levels in Port Pirie children.”

Despite some improvements over recent years, the latest data shows very little overall change since the “Ten by 10” lead reduction program commenced in 2005. In 2005, over half (55.1%) of kids tested exceeded WHO lead levels in their blood. In 2010 the figure is 43.4% - still a long way from the target of 5%.

“The residents of Port Pirie shouldn’t have to choose between brain-damaged children and jobs. Nyrstar is a massive multi-national company. It can and must be made to operator its smelter cleanly.”

“The State Government also needs to reaffirm the independence of the EPA in this matter and guarantee that it will not interfere in any tough decisions the EPA may have to make. In 2005, the State Government over-ruled the EPA over pollution standards for the OneSteel steel works in Whyalla. That decision completely under-mined the independence of the EPA and must never happen again”, concluded Mr Parnell.
 

Note: Before entering Parliament, Mark Parnell was the lawyer for the Whyalla Red Dust Action Group and commenced the State’s first civil enforcement action in Court to force OneSteel to reduce its pollution.

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