Dealing with pollution

 
 
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Dealing with pollution – the case of Australia’s HAZELWOOD coal plant fires
Nii Armah Kweifio-Okai
4 February 2016


Australia’s Hazelwood power station owned by GDF Suez, part owned by the French burnt for 45 days as a result of its brown coal catching fire from bushfire embers two years ago. 7000 fire fighters fought the fires over the 45-day period. Employees, residents in the area and the fire fighters were exposed to toxic fumes, leading to obstructive lung diseases and deaths. An enquiry into the fires in Hazelwood concluded there have been spikes in deaths in the La Trobe Valley since the fires.

Better summarised here at http://hazelwoodinquiry.vic.gov.au/

“In early February a fire ignited which, on or about 9 February 2014, took hold in the Hazelwood Coal Mine. The fire was brought under control and the mine was handed back to its owners on 25 March 2014. Many Morwell citizens and other residents of the Latrobe Valley were adversely affected by the fire and vulnerable residents were urged to relocate until air quality improved. A large number of people reported having respiratory and other health-related problems as a result of the conditions”.

Today 4 February 2016, less than 5 days to the second anniversary of the fires, Victorian Government agencies have bared their teeth and the Victoria Government is calling for more action against the owners of Hazelwood. Read

“Hazelwood coal mine operator facing workplace safety charges for 2014 fire” at

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/hazelwood-coal-mine-operator-to-face-workplace-safety-charges-for-2014-fire-20160203-gml0j9.html#ixzz3zBOJbqU4

And

“Victorian Environment Minister Lisa Neville hits out at EPA over Hazelwood charges delay” at

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/victorian-environment-minister-lisa-neville-hits-out-at-epa-over-hazelwood-charges-delay-20160204-gmli2v.html

As you read, please compare with the relative resources and legislative and enforcement preparedness of Ghana

The two reports above indicate the legislative and regulatory framework within which a company that has caused environmental harm can be brought to book in Australia. Significantly they illustrate the political will to hold such companies accountable for environmental harm. And the subtext of knowledgeable communities, sensitive to and protective of their environmental rights, who readily and often punish political parties who take community environmental concerns for granted.

Below are the enforcers and what they have done or are in the process of doing two years after the fires

Worksafe Victoria, empowered to prescribe and police a safe working environment and to prosecute employer violations whether or not there are consequences to the violations, has filed a court case citing 10 violations of workplace rules. At $1.36 million per violation, GDF Suez may be up to $13.6 million in fines

Country Fire Authority (CFA), responsible for safety of its fire-fighters, have filed a case against GDF Suez for $18 million costs for fighting the fires, having been cleared by Worksafe Victoria which found “they had taken reasonable measures to protect fire-fighters safety.”

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), responsible for monitoring and prosecuting environmental pollution, is contemplating taking action against GDF Suez for environmental pollution, with fines against the breach as well as each day of the breach

The politicians: In the second article cited above, the relevant minister is on the heels of the EPA for delays in bringing action against GDF Suez and has asked for weekly reports on progress towards prosecuting GDF Suez. Really, the minister has no power in enforcing environmental pollution, the EPA has! - powers the EPA exercises as an independent body. Still the minister’s intervention is persuasive in so far as she is seen as representing the will of the people and frankly with the people behind her. Political imperatives would see her addressing the EPA’s concern that it can only work within the "current legislative framework to ensure the best possible case is brought before the courts" as well as suggestions by CEO Environment Victoria about “weaknesses in the authority's act and powers to force Hazelwood to present evidence” and need for "enhanced powers and greater penalties” and “laying charges within 12 months of any serious pollution incident".

The people: Without them, regulations and statutes on environmental protection would remain just that, languishing in libraries and subject to academic discourse only. They have seen the back of the previous Government under whose watch the Hazelwood fires occurred. They have caused the timetable of the closure of Hazelwood forward. And they remain relentless!

Proponents of a coal powered station in Ghana are so arrogant that they are not open to minimum considerations of downsides or precautions that could be mitigated with careful measures and believe the need for more energy outweigh all other considerations. I invite them to consider Ghana’s capabilities should a Hazelwood be visited on a coal plant in Ghana.

Nii Armah Kweifio-Okai
February 04, 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
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Dealing with pollution – the case of Australia’s HAZELWOOD coal plant fires

Commentary, Feb 05, Ghanadot - The two reports above indicate the legislative and regulatory framework within which a company that has caused environmental harm can be brought to book in Australia. Significantly they illustrate the political will to hold such companies accountable for environmental harm. ....More

   
 

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