EPA air testing after coal mine fire delayed

It took the Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) five days to begin processing air quality readings from the town of Morwell during an open cut mine fire earlier in the year. An inquiry into the fire, which saw the town affected by ash and smoke for 45 days, has been told of the delay in processing air pollution measurements.

The coal mine fire began on February 9th at the Hazelwood open cut mine, causing dense smoke to blanket the neighbouring town of Morwell intermittently for over a month. The EPA was called in on February 12th to assess the health implications for residents that were affected by the fire.

Pollution levels were monitored in east Morwell as soon as the EPA were on scene. However, air quality measurements were not taken in south Morwell - the area of the town that was worst affected by the smoke and ash from the fire - until five days later. This means that testing in the area of the town that was closest to the coal mine did not begin until two weeks after the start of the fire.

Once measurements were processed, those that were deemed to be vulnerable in the area - pregnant women, ill residents and the elderly - were advised to leave their homes to avoid health complications. This action could have been taken sooner had testing been performed throughout all of Morwell on February 12th and the results processed quicker.

According to John Merritt, chief executive of the EPA at the time of the fire, there is usually a month's delay when it comes to performing air monitoring after the start of an incident. However, extra steps were taken to get the required equipment in place as soon as possible. He continued to say that although testing began in some areas of the town on February 12th, a technical fault meant the data was not being relayed back to the EPA straight away.

On some occasions air pollution in Morwell reached 15 times higher than the maximum safe levels, having huge health implications for residents. Many people living in the area complained of headaches, sore eyes and bloody noses as the fire continued.

The inquiry is due to look into the possible health and environmental effects of the fire.