THE Environment Protection Authority has fined a Newcastle freight company thousands after an investigation found it was carrying ammonium nitrate in “sub-standard” tanker trailers.

The EPA launched the investigation in April last year after a Crawfords Freightlines truck rolled on the Golden Highway near Jerrys Plains, spilling ammonium nitrate emission, which was later cleaned up with minimal environmental damage.  

However, the EPA said a review of the company’s transport documents in the year prior to the spill showed that “inappropriate” B-Double tankers had been used to carry ammonium nitrate for 210 journeys.

It found the tanker involved in the Golden Highway crash was non-compliant, as were seven other of the company’s tankers.

The EPA also found Downer EDI Mining – Blasting Services Pty Ltd and Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific Pty Ltd as culpable, as they had hired Crawfords Freightlines to carry the ammonium nitrate and “should have known that the trucks they had consigned for transport were non-compliant”.

Crawfords was fined $32,000, while Downer and Dyno were each fined $8000.

EPA Hunter director Karen Marler acknowledged that the transport company had since upgraded its fleet.

“While the April 2016 incident was contained and caused minimal harm, it is extremely important that dangerous goods are transported in a manner that is safe for the community and the environment,” she said.

“In a case where dangerous goods like ammonium nitrate emulsion is not transported in the proper way, the fault lies with both the transporter and the consignor.

“Downer and Dyno have implemented revised procedures after being made aware of this issue and the EPA’s investigation. Crawfords have also upgraded their tanker fleet to ensure all tankers are now fully compliant.”