In the wake of a chemical leak from Orica Limited's (ASX:ORI) plant near Newcastle in New South Wales the state has announced tougher laws to handle pollution breaches.
The new reforms include a $2 million fine for companies that do not “immediately or within one hour” report pollution incidents.
Orica caused controversy in August when it delayed informing local residents for three days that a potentially cancer causing chemical escaped from its plant into the atmosphere.
Orica also took 16.5 hours to inform the Office of Environment and Heritage of the leak, as the current legislation only stipulates that companies must inform the government “as soon as is practicable”.
In the first half of its 2011 financial year Orica reported a net profit of $277 million.
