Environment Protection Authority v Environmental Treatment Solutions Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 160

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Environmental Treatment Solutions Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 160 Hearing dates: 1 October 2015 Date of orders: 02 October 2015 Decision date: 02 October 2015 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [129] Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: breach of licence condition – discharge of hydrogen sulphide into atmosphere – harm to humans – plea of guilty – sentence – objective seriousness of offence – seriousness of environmental harm – state of mind of offender – subjective factors – fine imposed and costs ordered. Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 3A, 21A, 22, 23 Criminal Procedure Act 1986, ss 257B, 257G Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail Transport) Act 2008 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, s 118D Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, ss 3, 64, 128, 241 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 Connell v Santos New South Wales Pty Limited [2014] NSWLEC 1; (2014) 199 LGERA 84 Director-General of the 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 Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Causmag Org Company Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 58 Environment Protection Authority v Hunstman Corporation Australia Pty Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 39 Environment Protection Authority v Moolarben Coal Operations Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 65 Environment Protection Authority v Nulon Products Australia Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 153 Environment Protection Authority v Orica Pty Ltd (the Evaporator Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 104 Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (Nitric Acid Air Lift Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 103; (2014) 206 LGERA 239 Environment Protection Authority v Queanbeyan City Council (No 3) [2012] NSWLEC 220 Environment Protection Authority v Rethmann Australia Environmental Services Pty Ltd [2003] NSWLEC 351 Environment Protection Authority v Snowy Hydro Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 264; (2008) 162 LGERA 273 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 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; Orogen Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 144; (2010) 179 LGERA 386 Gore v The Queen; Hunter v The Queen [2010] NSWCCA 330 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen [2010] HCA 45; (2010) 242 CLR 520 Kyluk v Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage [2013] NSWCCA 114; (2013) 298 ALR 532 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Muldrock v R [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 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 Wickham [2004] NSWCCA 193 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) Environment Treatment Solutions Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: