KEY POINTS:
Battery recycling plant Exide Technologies Ltd is being prosecuted by Greater Wellington Regional Council for the second time for breaching permitted lead levels in the air.
The council has accused the Petone business of emitting an average of 1.67 micrograms of lead per metre cubed on their southern boundary between September and November last year, exceeding the limit of 1.5mcg.
Environmental regulation manager Al Cross said the elevated reading was connected to transfer of drums from the baghouse to the factory.
This was the second breach of Exide's resource consent for lead emissions since lower boundary limits came into force in August 2006, he said.
Exide was convicted and fined $5000 by the Environment Court after the council prosecuted the company for a breach of its discharge limits in the three-month period to the end of March last year.
Mr Cross said the brief period of elevated lead levels suggested there were unlikely to be any direct long-term health effects.
He said recent testing showed Exide was complying with the lead limits.
Exide general manager John Hawkins said the company regretted the breach and remained committed to being a "good neighbour to the residents of Petone".
"As soon as the breach was discovered, Exide brought together a team of its overseas recycling experts to work with its local recycling team to assess the operation and research the cause of the problem."
The group discovered lead particles had escaped from the baghouse as it was being transported on a pathway back into the plant for recycling.
Exide has now constructed a temporary enclosure around the pathway to prevent further emissions, Mr Hawkins said.
The company also implemented more rigorous housekeeping processes as part of its ongoing maintenance programme and will install a new baghouse.
"Exide will fully comply with all associated rulings of the Environment Court," Mr Hawkins said.
- NZPA
