Fears Northland toxic chemical stockpile could cause fire, environmental damage

Monday, 25 May 2020

Toxic solvents are stored in old and leaking storage containers on the Marsden Point site, which is close to Department of Conservation land and the sea.

Authorities fear a Northland site where about a million litres of toxic chemicals are stored could cause a 'catastrophic' explosion or fire, with the potential to damage New Zealand's fuel pipeline.

The site at Marsden Point, Ruakaka, is to be urgently cleared of all hazardous substances, according to a May 11 ruling by the Environment Court.

But the court documents show just how difficult such a clean-up will be, with a 'clear danger' if it is not done.

Between 700,000 and 1.1 million litres of industrial chemicals are stored haphazardly on the site, in old, damaged, rusty, leaking and unmarked containers, despite their toxicity and flammability.

**READ MORE:

Damage to the jet fuel pipeline at Ruakaka in September 2017 caused major disruption, including the cancellation of more than 100 flights.

* Toxic stockpile site given 10 days to clean up

* Toxic site’s distillation unit on Trade Me

Prime Minister Bill English and Energy and Resources Minister Judith Collins discuss the fuel shortage affecting flights out of Auckland Airport (video first published September 2017).

* The property stocked with 1 million litres of toxic chemicals

In its current state, the site poses 'significant risks to the environment' through groundwater contamination or catastrophic explosion or fire, Environment Court judges Jeff Smith and David Kirkpatrick said in their ruling.

Such a fire could cause a danger to human health, as well as affecting major infrastructure, such as the Marsden Point oil refinery's main fuel pipeline to Auckland.

This could cause major disruption, as shown in 2017 when damage to the pipeline caused a jet fuel shortage, cancelling more than 100 flights.

Also in danger is the neighbouring Department of Conservation reserve, and the nearby ocean and Whangārei Harbour.

LONG HISTORY OF RULE-BREAKING

The site is owned by Sustainable Solvents Group and has been used to treat and recycle industrial solvents since 2009.

But there has been a long history of non-compliance, with concerns first raised by Worksafe in 2015.

The site is in a notable landscape area, close to Ruakaka Beach and Refining New Zealand's Marsden Point oil refinery.

In 2017, Sustainable Solvents Group, operator Sustainable Solvents and director of the two, Brian Smith, were convicted of offences under the Resource Management Act and ordered to clean up the site. However, this did not occur.

Another solvent recycling company, Solvent Services NZ, agreed to run the site but there were ongoing concerns about compliance, with about one million litres of chemicals on site in 2018 when only 50,000 litres had been consented.

The Northland Regional Council, Whangārei District Council, Environmental Protection Authority and Worksafe all had concerns about the operation.

In 2018, mediation resulted in an agreement for Solvent Services NZ to remove its 500,000 litres of materials by September 2019 and Sustainable Solvents to remove its materials by March 2020.

But the latest court ruling showed the clean-up has not happened, and such separation of chemicals would be impractical and potentially dangerous.

CLEAN-UP ORDERED STEP-BY-STEP

All three companies involved — Sustainable Solvents Group, Sustainable Solvents and Solvent Services NZ — plus their directors Brian Smith, John Pretorius and Aaron Baldwin, have been given responsibility to clean up the site.

The Environment Court has ordered all chemicals and solvents to be removed within 120 working days, with clear milestones along the way, including all substances to be sealed in stable containers, rather than deteriorating ones, within 30 days.

If these milestones are not met, Whangārei District Council can do the required work itself and recover the costs.

Stuff has contacted Brian Smith, Sustainable Solvents, Solvent Services NZ and John Pretorius for comment.