By ANNE BESTON environment reporter
A hazardous-wastes facility owned by a company with three pollution convictions in the past year is now under threat of partial shutdown.
Nuplex Environmental, formerly known as United Environmental, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Australian-based Nuplex Industries and operates Auckland's biggest dangerous goods facility.
The most recent conviction
of the company resulted in a $29,000 fine imposed this week.
Its parent company, resin manufacturer Nuplex Industries, has a string of pollution convictions, including a record single fine of $55,000 imposed this year.
The East Tamaki dangerous-goods facility run by Nuplex Environmental receives hazardous waste including paint thinners, used oil, solvents, acids and cyanide.
The company also stockpiles and repackages ethanol.
The site's dangerous goods licence was cancelled by the Manukau City Council last month over fire safety concerns.
However, at an Environment Court hearing yesterday the council did a u-turn, saying concerns over the Neales Rd site were "overstated".
In the lead-up to yesterday's hearing before Judge David Sheppard, Auckland University engineer Ron McDowell warned that the range of hazardous substances stored on the 3ha East Tamaki site could cause a "boiling liquid expanding vapour cloud explosion" if ignited.
But city council lawyer Nick Wright said the council had allowed the company to continue operating even after the licence was withdrawn because the company was working towards complying with all regulatory requirements.
The council disputed Mr McDowall's estimate of the fire risk.
Mr McDowall said a fire on the site could cause the biggest explosion in Australasia, sending fuel drums flying over a 500m radius.
Yesterday's action to force a partial shutdown of the East Tamaki operation until new fire equipment is installed was brought by Lewis Holdings, which rents a neighbouring site.
It is the second time Lewis Holdings has taken legal action against Nuplex Environmental. Late last year the company won an interim order forcing Nuplex Environmental to address concerns over the amount of flammable material and the incompatibility of various chemicals at the Neales Rd site.
Mr Wright said the council acknowledged the site needed new fire safety equipment but "does not consider it is necessary for the operations on site to cease until those works have been completed".
The company argued that a partial shutdown would be "devastating" and would cost it at least $100,000 a month.
It also said new fire equipment, including a "foam deluge" system (a huge shower of foam and water triggered by an alarm) had been ordered from the United States.
Judge Sheppard's decision will be released this week.
Herald Feature: Conservation and Environment
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