Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has completed its licence review of the State’s three brown coal fire stations: Yallourn, Loy Yang A and Loy Yang B.
Executive Director of Regulatory Standards, Assessments and Permissioning at EPA, Tim Eaton said that following extensive public consultation, changes were made to all three licences with regard to air emissions and wastewater.
Mr Eaton said Yallourn and Loy Yang A also had changes made to their licences which required rehabilitation plans for ash landfills and the implementation of mine dust controls.
“The new conditions aim to protect the local environment and provide greater transparency for Victorians about brown coal fire station emissions,” Mr Eaton said.
“This means less emissions from the stations into the community because of reduced licence limits,” he said.
“And greater visibility of what is being emitted as the power stations are required to continually share emissions data on their websites.”
Mr Eaton said EPA’s review focused on monitoring, reporting and pollutant emission limits to ensure compliance with the State Environment Protection Policy (Air Quality Management).
“Through our licence review we’re reduced emission limits and are making sure that the community has the best information about the emissions coming from power stations in a timely matter,” he said.
“The health of the local community and the environment is EPA’s first priority, and these additional requirements will ensure both remain protected.”
Mr Eaton said wastewater discharge limits for most parameters on each licence had also been reduced to ensure appropriate limits.
EPA’s 34-page review can be accessed at this PS News link.
