Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has issued Landfill Operations Pty Ltd (Cleanaway) with a Pollution Abatement Notice (PAN) requiring remedial action after it detected further elevated levels of methane at its Ravenhall landfill site.
The detection was picked up by EPA officers while reviewing further monitoring data it requested from the company as part of its investigation into a recent detection of elevated methane levels at the site on 8 April 2016.
EPA Executive Director of Regional Services, Damian Wells said officers detected ongoing elevated levels of methane in two landfill gas bores at the site over a 12 month period.
“As part of its licence conditions, the company is required to immediately notify EPA of any licence breaches at the site.”
“EPA is considering evidence in relation to this matter and if substantiated, sanctions will be considered consistent with its Compliance and Enforcement policy. EPA will also review further monitoring data from the site for any other potential breaches.
“While the investigation is ongoing, EPA has issued Cleanaway with a PAN requiring it develop an action plan to address and manage the elevated landfill gas issues appropriately.
“Given the location of gas bores and the 500m buffer zone, EPA believes the elevated gas readings do not represent a need for concern by the community.”