By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A SUBMISSION slamming Alcoa’s Anglesea power station to a senate committee on air quality contained errors and was “misleading”, according to the company.
The committee alerted Alcoa to the Surf Coast Air Action (SCAA) submission and allowed the company to respond in accordance with a senate procedure of adverse comment, which allows third parties to defend themselves.
In the reply, Alcoa’s Tim McAuliffe said SCAA’s claims the power station breached US standards were “overestimated”.
He said average carbon dioxide ground-level concentrations were within national guidelines and state air quality limits of 200 parts per billion.
“Since March 2009 there has been no non-compliance recorded at the six monitors in the Anglesea township,” he wrote.
Mr McAuliffe said SCAA’s presentation of the proximity of the power station to the town as a health risk was misleading.
“The key consideration used to determine risk to human health from airborne emissions is ground level concentrations. Similarly, the comparison of mass emission rates for sulphur dioxide from the Anglesea power station to the Hazelwood power station is not relevant.”
Mr McAuliffe said criticism of non-independent monitoring was unfounded.
“Extensive monitoring of sulphur dioxide has been undertaken for many years at (six) locations. This monitoring has been carried out using independent consultant expertise and verification.
“The Victorian EPA conducted its own audit of the monitoring networks and found all aspects of the network were compliant.”
Mr McAuliffe also criticised the SCAA submission for using incomplete quotes from an earlier Alcoa human health risk assessment.
He said SCAA’s claim that the new Anglesea Primary School was left out of monitoring was incorrect.
“In fact, ambient sulphur dioxide has been monitored at a location just over the road from the school for over eight years.”
Mr McAuliffe said the company “remained confident” air emissions from the power station were “safe for residents”.
“Alcoa has continuously improved its environmental standards and maintained Anglesea power station to a high standard.”
