A company that dumped contaminated soil from an old petrol station in Daylesford has been fined by the Environmental Protection Authority.
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Sunshine West company Future Fuel Services Pty Ltd has been fined $8,261 for dumping the soil at a sub-division development site in Daylesford.
The EPA investigation, launched in October, included the service station site on the Midland Highway, where construction works were being undertaken to upgrade the existing service station into a modern Metro Petroleum service station.
In addition to this site, the EPA also investigated two properties at which soil from the service station site was dumped: a property being developed on Table Hill Road and another property on Ballan-Daylesford Road.
The owner of one of the properties had previously told The Courier he had been given assurances the soil was clean.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Industrial waste present in Daylesford soil deposit
Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) North West Regional Manager Dr Scott Pigdon says the investigation began with calls from concerned members of the public.
"The callers reported numerous truckloads of suspected contaminated soil being deposited at a property in Daylesford. They described how the soil smelled of diesel fuel," Dr Pigdon said.
"EPA testing showed the deposited soils were contaminated with hydrocarbons, such as diesel, and sufficiently contaminated to be classified as Prescribed Industrial Waste, which is subject to legal controls in both its handling and disposal."
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EPA has fined Future Fuel Services Pty Ltd for depositing industrial waste at a place that is not licensed to accept it.
EPA also issued the company with a regulatory notice requiring it to clean up the dumping site, and the company has complied.
"This case is a clear warning that you can't just dig up, transport and dump contaminated soil without the proper protections for the community and the environment," Dr Pigdon said.
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