Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is our national environmental regulator. Their role is to look out for our environment, understand environmental intricacies and protect Australia’s way of life. In doing so, the EPA can use remedial notices to prevent or remedy any potential environmental risk.
One common notice is called a ‘Pollution Abatement Notice’ (PAN). This aims to prevent further occurrence of pollution or any potential environmental risks by requiring the adoption of appropriate risk controls into business processes and practices.
The Challenge
When a fire broke out at a manufacturing site on the outskirts of Melbourne recently, the EPA issued a PAN to the business occupiers after they had visited the site. This was because they had observed environmental risks which the EPA believed were likely to have caused pollution after the fire.
The Approach
Morphum Environmental was engaged by the business concerned to carry out a risk assessment, as well as a stormwater management plan, to meet the requirements of this PAN.
Our team carried out desktop assessments and a site visit to assess the day-to-day operation of the client’s business. We looked for environmental risks to gain a greater understanding of the issues observed in the PAN, and assessed and identified the stormwater network layout using GIS data to overlay onto aerial photographs. We also liaised with the EPA throughout the project to ensure our proposed solutions would meet their expectations.
Morphum was able to successfully assess all environmental risks associated with the business’ operation and subsequently delivered a practical risk assessment and stormwater management plan to the client – both of which were also submitted to the EPA for approval.
The Result
Morphum were pleased to hear that the EPA approved the report and the PAN was revoked. The stormwater management plan showed the internal and external drainage systems, what waste is generated at the premises and how it is stored and where it is disposed of. A great result for all!