Aussie news: Cattle safe after 48 hours, farmers near Cougar Energy plant told.

CATTLE farmers surrounding the Cougar Energy underground coal gasification (UCG) plant near Kingaroy in Queensland have been told they can market their cattle again after the positive test on the water of the vicinity. Initially, the water was found to be contaminated by the chemical substances, benzene and toluene emitted from the UCG. As a result, the Cougar Energy was urged to shut down it. All stocks on the vicinity of the site must be kept away from the contaminated water for at least two before going into slaughter because it took at least 24 hours for the chemical substances to evaporate from the water. Although the sample test had shown a positive test, Department of Environment and Resource Management and Queensland Health will still carry on review prior to changing the advise on the local community not to consume the underground water. Meanwhile, Biosecurity Queensland has taken blood and fat samples from cattle on some of the potentially affected properties and the samples to be test for benzene. Further up coming result may need some time for the test being done.