Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) is currently investigating a recent spill of aviation gas waste on the Monash Freeway.
EPA CEO Nial Finegan said there were a range of matters in the Environment Protection Act under consideration, and if breaches have occurred, prosecution action would be taken.
“There are offences relating to non-compliance with prescribed industrial waste that EPA is looking at; the maximum penalty for an offence under these obligations is over $350,000,” Mr Finegan said.
“EPA is also looking at any potential offences relating to whether the vehicle was compliant with its permit and the nature of the material transported.”
Mr Finegan said following the clean-up, the aviation gas waste was appropriately disposed of at its intended destination.
“It is important to note that avgas is a liquid, not a gas, and therefore cannot be deposited at landfills as has been suggested in some reports. The waste in question was always destined for an EPA-licensed premise that manufactures waste-derived fuels,” Mr Finegan said.
Mr Finegan said that as aviation gas waste fell into the category of prescribed industrial waste, EPA required any vehicles transporting it to have an EPA-issued permit.
“The vehicles are usually standard trucks, but there are requirements to carry safety/clean up items and the like. A certificate-based manifest system is also used to ensure wastes are received at a licensed facility. The driver of a vehicle must also be appropriately licensed,” Mr Finegan said.