The NSW EPA has fined electricity generator AGL Macquarie $15,000 after Liddell Power Station allegedly exceeded its permitted air emissions.
AGL Macquarie notified the environmental watchdog that stack testing earlier this year found it had exceeded its solid particles concentration limit, EPA regulatory and operations director David Gathercole said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.
The emissions exceedance were allegedly caused by a small number of failures of bags in the baghouse, which are designed to filter out very small solid particles. These failures were not detected by the continuous monitoring system, the EPA said.
The fine amount is the largest that the EPA can issue under its legislation.
"These were the second exceedance in the current reporting period, but AGL Macquarie has implemented a number of actions aimed at ensuring future emissions are within licence limits," Mr Gathercole said.
"The bags that failed have been replaced and AGL Macquarie AGLM is working with its filter bag supplier to identify any further opportunities to help maintain bag integrity."
The EPA is continuing to regulate all power stations to ensure their emissions are minimised.
