Adani altered lab report while appealing fine for Abbot Point coal spill - Report

Image Source: ytimg.com

The Guardian reported that Adani submitted an altered laboratory report while appealing a fine for contamination of sensitive wetlands on the Queensland coast near the Great Barrier Reef, the Guardian understands. While appealing a USD 12,000 fine for spilling coal-laden water on to the Caley valley wetlands at Abbot Point after Cyclone Debbie, Adani submitted a report detailing the nature of the spill. But the Guardian understands that while investigating the incident, the Department of Environment discovered the original lab report containing results left off the version Adani submitted. The original report found worse pollution than had earlier been alleged.

It’s believed departmental officers noticed a difference between documents provided by Adani through its Abbot Point Bulkcoal operation and those obtained directly from the laboratory responsible for testing the level of coal contamination in discharge water.

Adani would not comment, beyond an Abbot Point Bulkcoal spokesman saying the company “provided sampling results to the regulator following Tropical Cyclone Debbie in accordance with the requirements of its environmental authority”.

The discrepancies were discovered during the Department of Environment’s preparations to defend itself against an appeal by Adani, which is disputing a finding it polluted waters off Queensland’s north coast.

The Abbot Point Bulkcoal Pty Ltd, run by Adani, was issued a penalty notice in July 2017 following an investigation into whether it exceeded allowable discharge levels after Cyclone Debbie in March 2017.

The company was authorised to release up to 100 milligrams per litre of coal-laden water, known as “suspended solids”, by the Queensland authorities, to help the site cope with the natural disaster.

It advised the environmental department in April that up to eight times the allowable amount, 806 milligrams per litre of suspended solids, had been released, which left the company facing a potential multimillion-dollar fine.

The company was fined USD 12,000 in August last year for breaching its temporary allowance. However, the Guardian understands further investigation by the department, just before the November 2017 Queensland election, found a lab report submitted by Adani appeared to have been modified.

Source : The Guardian