Xstrata To Face The Full Force Of The Law Over Lead

The Queensland government is preparing to prosecute mining giant Xstrata after one of its Mount Isa air monitoring sites found illegal levels of lead. Minister of Climate Change and Sustainability Kate Jones says her officers will examine the evidence after meeting with the company.

By Chris O’Brien in ABC News (23 February 2010):  

Queensland Government officials will meet Xstrata representatives in Mount Isa in the state’s north-west today to check the mining company’s assurances about lead levels.

Xstrata says lab tests have shown that a high lead level reading from late last year is an anomaly, but the Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Kate Jones, says her department will examine the evidence.

Last week, Ms Jones said the operation could be scaled back, closed or fined up to $2 million.

She says the company formally notified the Government yesterday about the latest results.

“My initial feeling is relief, if indeed it is true that this is an anomaly and we haven’t seen a breach of their lead levels,” Ms Jones said.

“Of course this is something that everybody wants to see, but I want to make sure that this data is correct and that is why I’m instructing staff to meet with senior officers from Xstrata to go through that data.”

Ms Jones says she stands by her tough language against Xstrata. She says that is still appropriate.

“I absolutely stand by the strong words that I used against Xstrata on Friday,” Ms Jones said.

“That was because we were given information from Xstrata which showed there had been a breach.

“If indeed it turns out that that breach was an anomaly, then we’ll all breathe a sign of relief, but I want to make sure that is absolutely correct before we take any further action.”

Source: www.abc.net.au

AAP (19 February 2010):

The Queensland government is preparing to prosecute mining giant Xstrata after one of its Mount Isa air monitoring sites found illegal levels of lead.

Xstrata Mount Isa Mines issued a statement on Friday saying one of its five air sampling stations in Mount Isa found a “potential exceedence for lead”.

An Xstrata spokesman told AAP it exceeded the 1.5 microgram per cubic metre of lead allowed into the atmosphere but four other stations were well below the limit.

Queensland Environment Minister Kate Jones said the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) was preparing to prosecute the company.

“Xstrata must report on its investigations and detail what urgent action the company has taken to fix the problem by Monday,” Ms Jones said in a statement.

“Xstrata will face the full force of the law.”

Source: www.news.brisbanetimes.com.au