The NSW Government has announced environmental audits of 42 of the state's major hazard facilities that store large quantities of toxic, hazardous or dangerous substances.
Federal changes mean companies will find it easier to buy and use Australian carbon credits, a NSW review is likely to result in tougher environmental incident notification rules and a Western Australian appeal decision confirms that backers of major projects will face carbon offset obligations.
Chemical company Orica, explosives supplier Dyno Nobel and miner Centennial Coal are among 53 companies placed on Pollution Reduction Programs following inspections of businesses in NSW's Hunter region.
Cargill Processing Ltd has given an enforceable undertaking to EPA Victoria to spend about $600,000 fixing odour problems, while the Authority has issued five pollution notices to Amcor Packaging in the wake of 'skyrocketing' odour complaints.
Emissions of 52 of 93 reported substances decreased in 2009-10, but emissions of cyanide from metal ore mining almost doubled, reveals new National Pollutant Inventory data.