A coal gas company has been hit with fines and court costs of $100,000 after breaching environmental standards and not notifying regulators.
Carbon Energy, which operates an underground coal gasification trial plant near Chinchilla, was fined $60,000 for releasing contaminated water, AAP reports.
The company’s executive officer, Andrew Dash, was also fined $2,000.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching the Environmental Protection Act and not notifying the Government, and on top of the fines it was ordered to pay $40,000 in costs.
QLD environment minister Andrew Powell said the charges followed a 2010 investigation, and while the Government aimed to support industry it would “vigorously pursue” those who breached environmental conditions.
