Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (the Nitric Acid Air Lift Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 103

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (the Nitric Acid Air Lift Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 103 Hearing dates: 5, 6, 10 and 12 December 2012 and 20 May 2013 Decision date: 28 July 2014 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [261]. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: offences under Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 - breach of licence condition - failure to maintain plant and equipment in a proper and efficient condition - pollution of waters - sentencing principles - application of De Simoni principle - application of totality principle - determination of appropriate sentence. Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 3A, 21A, 22, 23 Criminal Procedure Act 1986, ss 257B, 257G Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, s 125 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, ss 3, 64, 115, 116, 120, 241, 248, 250(1) Cases Cited: Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Cabonne Shire Council v Environment Protection Authority [2001] NSWCCA 280; (2001) 115 LGERA 304 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Cassidy v R [2012] NSWCCA 68; (2012) 220 A Crim 420 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Rinaldo (Nino) Lani [2012] NSWLEC 115 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet v Powell [2012] NSWLEC 129 Connell v Santos New South Wales Pty Ltd [2014] NSWLEC 1; (2014) 199 LGERA 84 Director-General, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water v Forestry Commission of New South Wales [2011] NSWLEC 102 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137; (2009) 168 LGERA 121 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137; (2009) 168 LGERA 121 Environment Protection Authority v Aargus Pty Ltd; Kariotoglou; Kelly [2013] NSWLEC 19 Environment Protection Authority v Albury City Council [2009] NSWLEC 169 Environment Protection Authority v Austar Coal Mine Pty Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 252 Environment Protection Authority v Baiada Poultry Pty Limited [2008] NSWLEC 280; (2008) 163 LGERA 71 Environment Protection Authority v Ballina Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 289; (2006) 148 LGERA 278 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Big River Group Pty Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v BlueScope Steel (AIS) Pty Limited [2004] NSWLEC 400 Environment Protection Authority v Bowport All Roads Transport Pty Limited (No 2) [2009] NSWLEC 180 Environment Protection Authority v Bulga Coal Management Pty Limited [2014] NSWLEC 55 Environment Protection Authority v Burrangong Meat Processors Pty Ltd [2003] NSWLEC 102 Environment Protection Authority v Caltex Refineries (NSW) Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 335 Environment Protection Authority v Caltex Refineries (NSW) Pty Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 194 Environment Protection Authority v Causmag Ore Company Pty Limited [2009] NSWLEC 164 Environment Protection Authority v Centennial Newstan Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 211 Environment Protection Authority v Chillana Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 255 Environment Protection Authority v Coal and Allied Operations Pty Ltd [2013] NSWLEC 134 Environment Protection Authority v Coastal Recycled Cooking Oils Pty Limited [2008] NSWLEC 242 Environment Protection Authority v CSR Building Products Limited [2008] NSWLEC 224 Environment Protection Authority v Delta Electricity [2009] NSWLEC 11 Environment Protection Authority v Forbes Shire Council [2014] NSWLEC 26 Environment Protection Authority v Forestry Commission of New South Wales [2013] NSWLEC 101 Environment Protection Authority v Forgacs Engineering Pty Limited [2009] NSWLEC 64 Environment Protection Authority v Fulton Hogan Pty Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 268; (2008) 163 LGERA 345 Environment Protection Authority v Hanson Precast Pty Limited [2008] NSWLEC 285 Environment Protection Authority v Hochtief AG [2006] NSWLEC 200 Environment Protection Authority v Hochtief AG and Thiess Pty Ltd [2007] NSWLEC 177 Environment Protection Authority v Huntsman Corporation Pty Ltd (No 4) [2011] NSWLEC 39 Environment Protection Authority v Incitec Limited [2003] NSWLEC 381; (2003) 131 LGERA 176 Environment Protection Authority v Lithgow City Council [2007] NSWLEC 695 Environment Protection Authority v M A Roche Group Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Roche [2013] NSWLEC 191 Environment Protection Authority v Moolarben Coal Operations Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 65 Environment Protection Authority v Moolarben Coal Operations Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd [2005] NSWLEC 621 Environment Protection Authority v Peak Gold Mines Pty Limited [2013] NSWLEC 158 Environment Protection Authority v Pipeline Drillers Group Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 18 Environment Protection Authority v Port Kembla Copper Pty Ltd [2001] NSWLEC 174; (2001) 115 LGERA 391 Environment Protection Authority v Port Kembla Copper Pty Ltd [2003] NSWLEC 256 Environment Protection Authority v Queanbeyan City Council (No 3) [2012] NSWLEC 220; (2012) 192 LGERA 415 Environment Protection Authority v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 23 Environment Protection Authority v Ravensworth Operations Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 222 Environment Protection Authority v Rethmann Australia Environmental Services Pty Ltd [2003] NSWLEC 351; (2003) 131 LGERA 422 Environment Protection Authority v Sibelco Australia Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 160 Environment Protection Authority v Snowy Hydro Limited [2008] NSWLEC 264; (2008) 162 LGERA 273 Environment Protection Authority v State of New South Wales (Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water) [2010] NSWLEC 67; (2010) 174 LGERA 19 Environment Protection Authority v Straits (Hillgrove) Gold Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 114; (2010) 174 LGERA 314 Environment Protection Authority v Tea Garden Farms Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 89 Environment Protection Authority v Transpacific Industries Pty Limited; Environment Protection Authority v Transpacific Refiners Pty Limited [2010] NSWLEC 85 Environment Protection Authority v Unomedical Pty Limited (No 3) [2010] NSWLEC 198 Environment Protection Authority v Unomedical Pty Limited (No 4) [2011] NSWLEC 131 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Environment Protection Authority v Werris Creek Coal Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Holley [2009] NSWLEC 124 Genkem Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1994) 35 NSWLR 33 Gittany Constructions Pty Limited v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Gordon Plath of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Fish [2010] NSWLEC 144; (2010) 179 LGERA 386 Gore v The Queen; Hunter v The Queen [2010] NSWCCA 330 Harrison v Baring (No 2) [2012] NSWLEC 145 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen [2010] HCA 45; (2010) 242 CLR 520 Johnson v The Queen [2004] HCA 15; (2004) 78 ALJR 616 Lee v Office of Environment and Heritage [2012] NSWLEC 9 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Mill v The Queen [1988] HCA 70; (1988) 166 CLR 59 Muldrock v R [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 Pearce v The Queen [1998] HCA 57; (1998) 194 CLR 610 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 R v Booth (NSW Court of Criminal Appeal, 30 September 1997, unreported) R v De Simoni [1981] HCA 31; (1981) 147 CLR 383 R v Harris [2007] NSWCCA 130; (2007) 171 A Crim R 267 R v Holder; R v Johnston [1983] 3 NSWLR 245 R v Johnson [2004] NSWCCA 76 R v MAK; R v MSK [2006] NSWCCA 381; (2006) 167 A Crim R 159 R v MMK [2006] NSWCCA 272; (2006) 164 A Crim R 481 R v Morgan (1993) 70 A Crim R 368 R v Olbrich [1999] HCA 54; (1999) 199 CLR 270 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Wheeler [2000] NSWCCA 34 R v Wickham [2004] NSWCCA 193 State Pollution Control Commission v CSR Ltd (1989) 75 LGRA 1 Veen v The Queen [1979] HCA 7; (1979) 143 CLR 458 Veen v The Queen (No 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Orica Australia Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Mr S Rushton SC and Mr D A Hughes (Prosecutor) Mr T A Game SC, Mr D Jordan SC and Ms K Edwards (Defendant) Office of Environment and Heritage (Prosecutor) Ashurst Lawyers (Defendant) File Number(s): 50919 and 50920 of 2011