09/09/2005 - The Environment
Agency has today (Friday 9 September 2005)
prosecuted a company based in Denmead, Hampshire
for polluting a tributary of the River Wallington,
killing almost all of the invertebrate life
there.
European Exhausts and Catalysts Ltd pleaded
guilty to the offence at Fareham Magistrates
Court. The company was fined £1,500
and ordered to pay costs of £1,310 after
already paying out clean-up costs estimated
at £15,000.
Environment Officers launched an immediate
clean-up operation on 5 December 2004 after
a member of public reported seeing diesel
in a small stream in Denmead. For 4 days officers
attempted to limit the damage of the spill
on the environment.
The diesel was found to be coming from a
large oil fuel tank owned by European Exhausts
and Catalysts Ltd based on the Parklands Industrial
Estate, Denmead. The 6,000 litre heating oil
tank served one of the company’s buildings
through an underground pipeline.
Whilst investigating this incident, an Environment
Officer insisted on the excavation of the
oil pipeline. A fracture was found from which
oil had been leaking and entering the surface
water drainage system through the side wall
of an inspection chamber. It was then flowing
into the watercourse.
Investigations revealed that in mid October
a road surfacing company had damaged the pipe.
The damage was repaired immediately but European
Exhausts and Catalysts Ltd failed to follow
best practice and arrange for a pressure test
on the oil tank and pipework to verify the
integrity of the system. Although the leak
in December was not found to be coming from
the previously repaired section, it was originating
from a fracture in the pipe nearby.
An ecological assessment of the stream revealed
that the oil leak had had a significant effect
on the invertebrate life and other aquatic
flora and fauna. Large numbers of the most
pollution-tolerant organisms such as worms,
leeches and water hog-lice had been killed
along a 1kilometre stretch of the watercourse.
Environment Officer, Emma Gale, said after
the hearing: “A few simple checks of the oil
tank and pipework would have prevented this
incident. It has had devastating consequences
on a small stream.
“A failure to make these checks has cost
European Exhausts and Catalysts Ltd almost
£18,000. Had the magistrates not taken
into account the money already spent on the
clean-up operation, the fine could have been
much higher.
“This should be a reminder to anyone with
an oil tank that they must check the tank
and pipework regularly for damage or they
face hefty costs”.
In its defence, European Exhausts and Catalysts
Ltd claimed the damage to the pipe had been
done by a contractor carrying out road surfacing
work. The incident had already cost the company
£15,000 to put right and remediate the
contamination to the watercourse. It has since
put measures in place to prevent it happening
again.
The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England)
Regulations 2001 came into force in full on
1 September 2005. This means that anyone who
stores more than 200 litres of oil in tanks
and containers, outside and above ground,
will need to adhere to the strict requirements
of the regulations. Failure to comply can
lead to a fine of up to £5,000 or up
to £20,000 if pollution has been caused.
This does not affect householders who own
oil tanks with a capacity of less than 3,500
litres.
Anyone needing advice on how to make checks
to avoid pollution can call the Environment
Agency on 08708 506 506.
