Reference no: EM133090793

Oz Gold

Oz Gold is an Australian owned Mineral Processing Company that extracts gold from crushed rock using a chemical process. This involves pulverising the rock and materials with water into a muddy consistency then adding chemicals that produces a reaction that separates the gold from the mud and crushed rock. The by product is a toxic slurry which incudes arsenic which must be allowed to sit in settling ponds, which after a period of some months, the water can be safety recycled and the remaining solids processed safely. Oz Gold operated a plant on the banks of the Rubicon River in Switzerland processing ore mined from the Alps. Fritz Nubermeyer, the Chief Operating Officer, approved the ponds to be filled up to 85% capacity, which is within legal limits, but usually ponds are not allowed to exceed 70% to account for any additional overflow. He did so give it was summer and normally rainfall is minimal. However, following an unseasonable bout of rain, the ponds quickly filled, and the overflow spilled the toxic contents into the Rubicon River. Hundreds of thousands of fish floated to the surface from the plant location in Southern Switzerland through the country into neighbouring Italy. A health warning was issued in both countries prohibiting any fishing or aquaculture in the river for a period of 6 months and severely limiting the river's use for irrigation and drinking water.

Fritz made the decision, but who is responsible?

What is Oz Gold's obligation to Switzerland and Italy?