Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has been notified by Ford Australia that scheduled testing of stack emissions at its Geelong plant exceeded EPA licence limits for zinc discharges during July and September.
EPA has asked Ford Australia to explain why there was a delay in the notification and EPA will now investigate whether any breaches of the Environment Protection Act 1970 have occurred.
An initial assessment of emissions data provided by Ford Australia to EPA has confirmed a breach of licence limits.
EPA is also now working with Ford Australia to undertake modelling of its stack emissions to determine whether the increased discharges complied with State Environment Protection Policy (Air Quality Management); this work is expected to be completed by November 2015.