Orica has recorded an elevated reading of sulphur dioxide from its Spent Acid Regeneration Plant at Port Kembla.
The explosives manufacturer reported to the EPA after it recorded an elevated level of sulphur dioxide, which spiked at 3000ppm, and stayed above Orica's licence limit of 1000ppm for around 15 minutes.
According to Orica, the reading averaged as a released of 595ppm, which does not constitute a breach of licence as limit for the release of sulphur dioxide at the plant is based on hourly averages.
However, it reported the incident to the EPA as a precaution, which stated that the move is "in line with the new requirements under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act which came into effect [last] Monday".
The EPA is following up on the spiked reading with Orica, as the explosives manufacturing investigates the cause of the incident.
According to both Orica and the EPA, there was no harm to the community or the environment from the elevated output.
Orica last week announced it was resuming the restart of its embattled Kooragang Island ammonia plant after halting operations due to a faulty compressor.