A DANDENONG South insulation manufacturer has failed to report its particle emissions on its most recent annual performance statement.
On its 2011-12 APS submitted to the Environment Protection Authority, Fletcher Insulation reported zero emissions of PM10 — that is, particulate matter of diameter 10 micrometres or less.
The EPA’s website states that exposure to such fine particles is linked to breathing and respiratory problems, damage to lung tissue, cancer and premature death.
Fletcher Insulation general manager Colin Zeitlyn said the company last year found its licensed discharge limits for PM10 were incorrectly set.
“In consultation with the EPA, who receive all our data, it was agreed therefore that the readings should not be submitted in the APS.”
EPA spokeswoman Tanya O’Shea said there was “some confusion on what the reported figure should be” due to the company using the EPA’s APS portal for the first time.
Fletcher Insulation successfully sought to water down its pollution licence after being issued with a notice by the EPA last year.
The manufacturer argued its licence limits were “incorrect or lower than the acceptable limit with respect to SEPP [state environment planning policy] requirements”.
In its previous APS, Fletcher Insulation had exceeded its licensed discharge limits on five of 16 measures for toxic substances across three smokestacks, including PM10, formaldehyde and phenol.
In its most recent APS, Fletcher Insulation scored a clean bill of health but under more generous discharge limits for formaldehyde, PM10, ammonia and phenol. Had it been assessed under the previous year’s stricter discharge limits, it would have breached limits for formaldehyde and ammonia.
Ms O’Shea said licence limits were based on information supplied by Fletcher Insulation and reviewed by the EPA.
“EPA tries to ensure that emissions are as low as possible and licence limits are set on this basis. The emission limits in a licence are the upper acceptable limits.”
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