A call for federal regulatory intervention at a beleaguered US military fuel storage facility has been rejected by the NT government. The facility's 11 fuel tanks have not been built to withstand a category three cyclone, and an environmental impact assessment was not undertaken before construction. Lands, Planning and Environment Minister Josh Burgoyne says his department is working with owner-operator Crowley "to ensure they provide independent evidence that the tanks meet safety, construction, and environmental standards".
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00:0011 beleaguered fuel tanks sit without fuel on Darwin Harbour.
00:08Constructed unlawfully without a building permit, they're not designed to withstand
00:13a Category 3 cyclone.
00:15I think they should have talked to the people first, because we are living here.
00:21Well, a bit confused to be honest.
00:23Like, how did that happen?
00:25An engineering report finding failure of the tanks during a cyclone, while operational,
00:31would have catastrophic consequences for people, property and the environment, and cause
00:37an extreme hazard to human life.
00:41The Environment Centre now calling on the federal government to assess the project under its
00:47Environment Protection Act, something it didn't do before construction began.
00:52We're talking about millions of litres of flammable jet fuel.
00:57It blows my mind that this was not considered under the EPBC Act.
01:03The NT government provided its own environmental approval for the project and today dismissed
01:08calls for federal intervention.
01:10The Attorney-General also noting the territory coordinator could step in and override both
01:17building and environmental regulations to get the tanks operational.
01:21I mean, that is something that he may want to look at if he chooses to.
01:25I just don't have that detail on me.
01:26Territory coordinator Stuart Knowles saying he's had no engagement with the project.
01:32How the facility will ever become operational, now a question for the US military.
01:38I'm a member of the US military.
01:39I'm a member of the US military.
01:40I'm a member of the US military.
01:41I'm a member of the US military.
01:42I'm a member of the US military.
01:43I'm a member of the US military.
01:44I'm a member of the US military.
01:45I'm a member of the US military.
01:46I'm a member of the US military.
01:47I'm a member of the US military.
01:48I'm a member of the US military.
01:49I'm a member of the US military.
01:50I'm a member of the US military.
01:51I'm a member of the US military.
01:52I'm a member of the US military.
01:53I'm a member of the US military.
01:54I'm a member of the US military.
01:55I'm a member of the US military.
01:56I'm a member of the US military.
01:57I'm a member of the US military.