Paul Gainey - 27-Mar-2007
- A big clean-up operation is under way
on part of the River Brue near Highbridge,
Somerset, after gallons of oil spilled into
the river.
The Environment Agency has been using large
booms and sandbags to contain the oil at
the point where it discharged from a culvert
into the river.
Agency officers swung into action yesterday
after several members of the public reported
seeing oil in the River Brue at 9am. The
spill was traced to the nearby industrial
estate where investigations are continuing
to pin-point the source of the pollution.
Absorbants and booms were used by Agency
staff to slow the spread of the fuel oil.
A tanker was also used to pump the oil from
the watercourse.
No fish deaths have been reported although
there have been unconfirmed reports of oiled
birds being spotted.
‘We deployed the absorbant booms as quickly
as possible but it is believed the pollution
had started the night before. Very little
oil was coming under the booms this morning
which is encouraging as it shows we have
prevented the spread of oil downstream,’
said Brian Payne for the Environment Agency.
‘We are looking to deal with the residual
oil on the river, but we are aware that
some of the oil has gone out to sea. It
was fortunate members of the public responded
so quickly to this incident and rang our
pollution hotline.’
The Environment Agency is liaising with
Natural England, the RSPB and other conservation
groups.
In the meantime, investigations are continuing
into the environmental impact of the pollution.
The Environment Agency’s free 24-hour hotline
for reporting environmental incidents such
as fly-tipping or pollution is 0800 80 70
60.
+ More
New wetland at Freshfield Dune Heath nature
reserve
Rachel Fielding - 27-Mar-2007 - Water voles,
amphibians and dragonflies are going to
be living the life of Riley thanks to new
and improved wetland habitats at Freshfield
Dune Heath Nature Reserve, Formby.
Since 2004 Lancashire Wildlife Trust, the
site owners, have been developing the site
as a nature reserve and called upon the
Environment Agency to help find a way of
managing its water levels.
In January of this year the Environment
Agency’s Lancashire based Operations Delivery
Team started work on the drainage system
at the site. Now completed the team have
successfully created new wetland habitats
and improved existing wetlands. In total
over 20 new ponds have been formed and improvements
made to over 800m of water vole habitat.
Paul Thomas, Biodiversity and Recreation
Technical Specialist, said "We are
delighted with the results of our project.
The new habitat will provide an excellent
home for water voles, amphibians, dragonflies
and a whole range of other aquatic wildlife.
This really compliments all the Wildlife
Trust’s work at the reserve and will help
them with their long term management of
the site".
As well as providing habitat for wildlife,
part of the nature reserve is also open
for the public to enjoy. The entrance to
the site is at the end of Montagu Road in
North Formby.
Environment Agency response to Isle of
Grain explosion
Lucy Harding - 30-Mar-2007 - The Environment
Agency is working to minimise the environmental
impact of the oil tanker explosion at King’s
North Industrial Estate on the Isle of Grain
earlier today.
The main environmental risk was from the
water used to put out the fire. That water
became contaminated with the oil and has
contaminated a 300 metre stretch of water
course. The Environment Agency estimates
that a further 150,000 litres of oil contaminated
water have been contained on site.
The Fire and Rescue and Environment Agency
have used oil booms to contain the oil and
one of the Control Sluices on the Medway
Estuary has been closed as a precaution.
The Environment Agency will work with a
company employed by the site owners to clean
up the site and avoid any further pollution.
Paul Bennett, who was managing the Environment
Agency’s response on site said:
“This could have been devastating for the
local environment. By working with our partners
in the emergency services, we have managed
to limit the environmental damage and the
areas that were contaminated should make
a swift recovery. Our biggest challenge
was making sure that the contaminated water
didn’t get into the estuary.”
Environment Agency starts issuing fixed
penalty notices for environmental crimes
Head Office Press Office - 30-Mar-2007
- Environment Agency starts issuing - Fixed
Penalty Notices for environmental crimes
- Waste cheats beware - from Monday (2 April
2007) the Environment Agency will be able
to issue £300 fines to any businesses
found to be illegally carrying waste.
Liz Parkes, Head of Waste at the Environment
Agency, said: "By law, businesses in
England and Wales must be registered with
the Environment Agency if they transport
waste. This helps waste to be managed lawfully
in this lucrative industry, and to prevent
fly-tipping and illegal dumping.
"However, we know there are some businesses
who are avoiding registering with us. These
Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) will act as
a further deterrent to them and will give
them a much-needed jolt to make sure they
stay on the right side of the law.
The Environment Agency is implementing
powers to issue FPNs for certain environmental
offence including failure to provide evidence
of being a registered waste carrier and
compliance with laws on the Duty of Care,
and for some offences relating to managing
hazardous wastes. These are set out in the
Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act
2005 and the Hazardous Waste Regulations.
As there are currently no requirements
for waste carriers or brokers to carry registration
certificates with them, they have in the
first instance seven days to produce the
documents when asked. If they fail to do
so within this time, an FPN may be issued.
Liz Parkes continued: "Use of FPNs
will help encourage businesses to comply
with the law, particularly in the areas
of hazardous waste and waste transportation.
FPNs also help in our fight against illegal
waste activity allowing us to target our
enforcement resources on tackling more serious
waste crimes. It also means that we will
be consistent in our approach with Local
Authorities who have similar powers to issue
FPNs."
"Over the past two years, we have
made significant progress in tackling waste
crimes such as large-scale illegal dumping
of waste. We continue to work closely with
local authorities to tackle the general
problem of smaller scale fly-tipping.
"Often the large scale and complex
cases of illegal dumping of waste are masterminded
by criminals. This type of illegal dumping
of waste is not only an environmental problem,
but costs us all millions each year to clean
up.
"Everyone has a duty to make sure
their waste is disposed of legally yet some
people think they can get away with using
rogue traders. We want to encourage businesses
to comply with the law and stamp out the
illegal businesses so that the only ones
left are those that care about our environment."
To register as a waste carrier or broker
or to check whether the person collecting
your waste is registered with the Environment
Agency, visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk
or call 08708 506 506.
Environment Agency urges producers to continue
to sign up for Weee schemes
Head Office Press Office - 29-Mar-2007
- Environment Agency urges producers to
continue to sign up for WEEE schemes - The
Environment Agency today (29 March) urged
companies that produce, rebrand or import
electrical and electronic equipment (EEE),
such as televisions and toasters, to make
sure they are signed up with an approved
WEEE compliance scheme.
Liz Parkes, Head of Waste at the Environment
Agency, said: "From an initial telephone
survey conducted last week, we know that
more than 3,000 businesses have signed up
so far. This is encouraging news that shows
many companies are getting the message about
the new WEEE Regulations and what they need
to do.
"If anyone has missed the deadline,
our advice is to get yourself into a scheme
as soon as possible. With 37 on offer there
is plenty of choice and competition, so
make sure you sign up with a scheme that's
best for you.
"Signing up late is better than leaving
it altogether. Unregistered producers will
have committed an offence and if you leave
it too late, you risk getting prosecuted."
The WEEE Regulations will implement the
EU WEEE Directive in the UK from 1 July
2007. With electrical waste now one of the
fastest-growing waste streams across Europe
- expanding at around three times the rate
of general waste - the aim of the Directive
is to encourage more recycling, recovery
and re-use, and ultimately divert more used
goods away from landfill.
Liz Parkes continued: " The progress
so far in implementing the WEEE Regulations
has been positive given the challenging
timetable. The regulations are an essential
tool for reducing massive amount old electrical
and electronic equipment currently thrown
into landfill sites each year.
"Importantly, the regulations place
the responsibility for - and the cost of
- reducing environmental impact on those
who profit from making the goods in the
first place. The more electronics a producer
puts on the market, the more WEEE it must
ensure is dealt with safely.
Compliance schemes have been set up to
help those companies affected by the WEEE
Regulations by collecting and recycling
products on their behalf. Registration fees
- which recover the regulators' costs for
apportioning recycling obligations fairly
between schemes and ensuring they do the
right thing - reflect the scale and impact
of individual businesses in a fair and proportionate
way.
As part of the drive to make unregistered
producers aware of the regulations, the
Environment Agency will be targeting companies
it considers as potentially needing to join
a compliance scheme through advertisements
and a telephone campaign. This work will
run alongside efforts by the Department
for Trade and Industry, who will also be
reminding producers for their responsibilities.
For the full list of approved compliance
schemes and their contact details, along
with further information on the WEEE Regulations,
contact the Environment Agency on 08708
506 506.
