Mobil Australia could face charges over oil spill
Date: 16-Sep-99
Country: AUSTRALIA
The charges would be laid under either the Environment Protection Act
1993, which carries maximum penalties of A$1 million or the Pollution of
Waters by Oil and Noxious Substances Act 1987 which has a maximum fine
of A$200,000.
EPA chairman Stephen Walsh said investigations were still continuing
into the June 28 spill at the refinery in the state of South Australia.
"I expect charges to be laid at the completion of the investigation.
Based on current evidence it is estimated that the investigation will
take about another four weeks," he said in a statement.
"However further unforeseen issues may arise from the evidence to be
obtained over that period and this could extend the investigation
timetable."
If charges are laid the prosecution process could also be lengthy.
"The chairman indicated that if charges were laid and it went to court,
12 months was not out of the question," a spokesman said.
A total of 270 cubic metres of oil was spilled at a mooring off the
78,000 barrels per day day refinery after a crude oil carrier had
completed discharge.
Mobil has estimated the cost of the spill and its subsequent clean-up at
around A$1 million.
A Mobil spokesman said on Wednesday the company had completed its own
internal investigation of the spill and provided the information to the
EPA, but he said the company could not comment on the EPA's announcement
that it was likely to prosecute.
"It is a little early to sort out what our response is because we have
not seen any details yet," he said.