Saturday, September 19, 2009

Chemical toxic Waste Dump

There has been a growing concern over the impact of a chemical waste dump on residents health at a Dalyellup facility near Bunbury. The plant has been operational for the last 20 years, long before the population explosion. Many residents are becoming increasingly worried and I believe with good reason.It appears 20-30 years ago the DEC or EPA as they were known as then, it's hard to keep up with the name changes,where still hit and miss with regulations.29 years ago when Wagerup was being constructed, it was stipulated in their license then that the mud lakes had to be lined.
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The EPA found that as far back as 1988 the site was considered unacceptable as a waste facility beyond 3 years, yet 20 years later they are still using the site with an application being put forward for a further 3 years. Why wasn't it stipulated the site had to be lined like many other companies have had to conform to? This would explain why the company want to continue with their original license.What is wrong with the WA governments past and present, where is their duty of care to the residents?
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To knowingly consider a renewal of a license is criminal, the waste comes from a titanium dioxide plant in Australind.The patient application for the company shows the substances that are produced during the purification process are anything but safe. Compounds are particularly dangerous because they are carcinogens...of these the dioxin 2,3,7,8 TCDD is the most infamous, it more commonly known as as the toxic compound of agent orange.
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Dr P Dingle commented "In terms of environmental toxins you would say they're public enemy number one". Then there is the fact of allowing toxic chemicals to leach through the soil, into the Yarragadee aquifer before going out to sea.Governments around the world have made unlined sites illegal,so why is WA allowing a third world practice in 2009. Possibly because the company has given council $900,000 and will pay a further $950,000 over the next three years has something to do with it? The council intend to use the money to build a sports facility on the dump site, are they aware that dioxins and furans last for thousands of years? Where is their duty of care to present and future generations?

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