Indeg
Jones - 2-Oct-2006 - Environment Agency Wales
and other agencies have been dealing with significant
oil pollution since Thursday 28 September near
Picton Terrace, New Quay. The Agency was notified
by the Mid and West Wales Fire Brigade that 300
gallons of Kerosene domestic heating oil had escaped
from the pipework of a road tanker.
Some of the oil had travelled
down the road and entered the surface water drains,
which then discharged via the culvert onto Traeth
y Dolau beach. The fire brigade carried out initial
pollution reduction measures, which minimised
the impact of this pollution, and Ceredigion County
Council has subsequently cleaned up the road.
A specialist contractor, DV
Howells is removing the oil from the beach, and
will continue to monitor the effectiveness of
the absorbent materials during the weekend and
replace as required. Ceredigion County Council
is placing notices on the beach, advising visitors
not to bathe and to keep away from the affected
beach area, until further notice.
There is a visible oil sheen
on the beach and in the sea at present but this
is expected to reduce over the next few days as
the surface water drain is flushed out with rain
water and the oil sheen is dispersed by the tide
and weather conditions.
Gareth Jones, Agency Team Leader
Environment Management said: ‘We will continue
to monitor the clean up operations underway at
New Quay. I would like to thank Mid and West Wales
Fire Brigade, Ceredigion County Council, DV Howells,
the local community and others who have helped
in dealing with this unfortunate pollution incident.
The alleged polluter has been fully co-operative
with our investigations, and we will consider
what action to take at a later stage, in accordance
with our Enforcement and Prosecution Policy.’
Rachel Russell, Local Public
Health Director for Ceredigion Local Health Board,
said: "Due to all these measures the risks
to health are minimal, however the public are
advised to stay away from the area, avoid dog
walking on the affected beaches and not to collect
any items from the beach including shells, shellfish
and sea life.
The most common side effects
of inhaling Kerosene fumes are nausea, drowsiness
and headache. If anybody does have any health
concerns please contact your local Family Doctor."
Anyone who sees pollution, illegal
tipping of waste, poaching, fish in distress or
danger to the natural environment can contact
the Agency’s emergency hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
The hotline operates 24 hours a day, 365 days
a year, calls are free and will be treated in
the strictest confidence.
