Ammonia levels at a creek near Clive Palmer's Townsville nickel refinery have again crept above what is permitted by its environmental authority.
The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) on Wednesday said monitoring at Blind Creek undertaken as part of the licence picked up the breach.
"This new ammonia exceedance will also be considered by EHP as part of its current investigation," Environment Minister Steven Miles said.
Blind and Alick Creeks both recorded elevated ammonia levels last month under the facility's own monitoring, prompting the department to also conduct tests.
The levels fell back within a safe threshold prior to the newest breach.
Dr Miles said the department had also received applications from Queensland Nickel Sales to review environmental protection orders that ensured appropriate staff, equipment and resources are available to manage the Yabulu facility correctly.
"EHP issued the orders to ensure all environmental obligations in regard to the refinery were met," Dr Miles said.
"Whether the orders remain necessary is a matter for the regulator (EHP)."
The jobs of about 550 workers at the refinery were thrown into limbo last month when Mr Palmer re-entered the venture, with Queensland Nickel Sales taking over from administrators.
Mr Palmer has said the operation will not fully open again until the end of July and even then it would only be up and running if his list of demands was met.
Queensland Nickel, the facility's previous managing entity, was placed into voluntary administration and 237 workers sacked in January.
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