NSW: EPA criticised for poor environmental monitoring

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2001
NSW: EPA criticised for poor environmental monitoring

A New South Wales auditor-general's report says the state's Environment Protection
Authority is failing to protect the environment because it's not adequately monitoring
licence compliance.

The report says, that a decade after the EPA was set up, the environmental watchdog
still has a long way to go before it's effective in controlling pollution emissions and
discharges.

The EPA is responsible for licensing industries to undertake activities which might
pose a threat to the environment.

The licences aim to prevent and control pollution by limiting discharges and emissions
to acceptable levels.

The report has found the authority had issued 2,847 licences to allow industries to
operate, but had only checked around 1.3 per cent to see if conditions were being met.

AAP RTV ls/jjs/klw/pc

KEYWORD: EPA (SYDNEY)

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.