Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (the Botany Mercury Incident)

Land and Environment Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (the Botany Mercury Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 110 Hearing dates:5, 6, 10 and 12 December 2012 and 20 May 2013Decision date: 28 July 2014 Jurisdiction:Class 5Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [156]. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: breach of licence condition causing release of mercury vapour - failure to operate plant and equipment in a proper and efficient manner - guilty plea - sentencing principles - whether De Simoni principle applicable - whether totality principle applicable - determination of appropriate penalty. Legislation Cited: Contaminated Land Management Act 1997 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 3A, 21A, 22, 23 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, ss 3, 64, 241, 250 Cases Cited: Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (the Nitric Acid Air Lift Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 103 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 R v De Simoni [1981] HCA 31; (1981) 147 CLR 383 Category:SentenceParties: 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):50974 of 2012 JudgmentOrica Pleads Guilty to an Offence of Breaching a Licence Condition Resulting in the Release of Mercury Vapour...