Xstrata in the clear

Enviromine

Xstrata plc announced this month that it had “substantially” reduced emissions from its Mt Isa operation in Queensland, Australia, after implementing a range of environmental and monitoring initiatives.

Xstrata said it had reduced emissions of five out of six emission compounds on the National Pollutant Inventory database for which it was the highest emitter last year.

In February, Xstrata was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Queensland Government amid claims it had recorded higher than allowed levels of lead under state legislation at the Mt Isa mine.

A Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) investigation has confirmed that Mt Isa residents were not exposed to excessive levels of lead in the air by Xstrata between October and December 2009.

It was found that a new laboratory service provider had over-calculated the Xstrata results, the Queensland Government said.

Just days after saying “Xstrata will face the full force of the law”, Queensland Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones said she was relieved the company did not exceed its statutory limits for lead.

She added: “a DERM air-quality expert has closely examined the Xstrata data and is satisfied there had been a reporting error and no breach.

“Xstrata has undertaken to update and improve its data monitoring and reporting procedures, and to be more timely in reporting data to DERM.
“They must also reanalyse any samples where there are unexpected results.”

Ms Jones said DERM would “continue to work with Xstrata to ensure accurate reporting of air quality information to the Mount Isa community”.