22/07/2005 - A pollution
incident which killed fish on the River Roch
resulted in a £4,000 fine yesterday
(Wednesday) for Rochdale company GNG Foam
Converters (Lancashire) Limited.
Rochdale Magistrates’ Court also ordered the
company to pay a further £4,342.30 in
costs to the Environment Agency, which brought
the prosecution.
On Saturday 12 June 2004, some members of
the public contacted the Environment Agency
on our free 24 hour emergency hotline number,
0800 80 70 60, to report dead fish in the
River Roch at Littleborough.
One of our officers went to the scene and
further investigations established that at
a tank of vehicle washing chemicals on GNG
Foam Converters’ premises had been vandalised.
A large amount of the liquid had been spilled
as a result. GNG had reported this to the
police and the police contacted the Environment
Agency.
GNG’s diesel fuel tank was surrounded by
a brick barrier, designed to contain spillages.
However, GNG told the Environment Agency that
it had not put in a similar barrier around
the vehicle wash container because the company
had not considered the chemicals harmful.
However the labelling on the container indicated
it held a corrosive liquid containing sodium
hydroxide.
The company provided the Environment Agency
with a data sheet obtained on 14 June, following
the incident, that gave details of the spilled
liquid. This data sheet explained that the
chemicals were harmful to water creatures
and could have long-term adverse effects on
a river environment.
The information clearly stated that if the
liquid was spilled accidentally, the area
should be flushed with plenty of water but
that it should not on any account be allowed
to get into waterways.
Jane Morgan, prosecuting, told the court
that the Environment Agency accepted there
had been vandalism of GNG’s vehicle wash tank.
However, there had been a number of failures
on GNG's part regarding the use and storage
of the vehicle wash chemical, close to a surface
water drain known to connect to the nearby
river. The company should also have been aware
of the nature of chemicals on site. There
were no measures in place to prevent spillages
reaching the river. In short, the incident
could have been avoided.
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Notes to editors
Companies who would like advice on pollution
prevention measures can contact the Environment
Agency on 08708 506506 for more information.
They can also visit NetRegs, our online guide
to environmental legislation for businesses.
GNG Foam Converters (Lancashire) Limited were
charged with the following offence:
On or about 12 June 2004, at Penndale Industrial
Estate, Littleborough, caused polluting matter
to enter controlled waters, namely the River
Roch, contrary to section 85(1) and section
85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991 Fined
£4,000
