Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (the Hexavalent Chromium Incident)

Land and Environment Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (the Hexavalent Chromium Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 106 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 [256]. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: breach of licence condition causing release of sodium chromate into the atmosphere - failure to report a pollution incident as soon as practicable - guilty pleas - sentencing principles - whether the offence was committed without regard for public safety - 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 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, ss 3, 64, 148, 174, 241, 250(1) Cases Cited: Connell v Santos New South Wales Pty Ltd [2014] NSWLEC 1 EPA v Caltex Australia Petroleum Pty Limited [2007] NSWLEC 647 Environment Protection Authority v Forbes Shire Council [2014] NSWLEC 26 Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (the Nitric Acid Air Lift Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 103 Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (the Ammonia Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 107 Environment Protection Authority v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 23 Environment Protection Authority v Sibelco Australia Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 160 Environment Protection Authority v Unomedical Pty Limited (No 4) [2011] NSWLEC 131 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corp [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 R...