Michelle Dolphin - 15-Oct-2007
- The Environment Agency has withdrawn the
suspension notice issued to Whelan Refining
Ltd following an incident at the plant on
2 October 2007. This means that the company
may now re-start their operations.
Environment Manager Dave Lowe says “Since
the incident on 2 October 2007, Whelan Refining
Ltd have co-operated fully with our enquiries
and have satisfied us that they can operate
without causing harm to the environment
or human health. Under the law, we must
now lift the suspension notice we imposed
after the incident.
“However, we do understand people’s concerns
about the site and we will continue to regulate
the company firmly and fairly to ensure
that they learn the lessons from this incident
and operate safely in future.”
We will continue our investigations into
the cause of the incident, and may take
other formal action. This is entirely separate
from a suspension notice, which is a protective
rather than a punitive measure.
We will continue to work with the company
to minimise the risk of a similar incident
and to make sure that all pollution risks
are properly controlled.
+ More
The climate is hotting up and so is the
competition!
Ruth Noden - 15-Oct-2007 - Don’t miss out
on winning a bike - The Environment Agency
is calling for all budding artists who care
about the environment to enter their poster
competition for all Isle of Wight children
under 16 to win themselves a bike.
The Environment Agency, with support from
Island MP Andrew Turner, is asking children
between 4 and 16 years to create a poster
that shows one positive step people can
take to help the environment such as remembering
to recycle, saving water, saving energy
and cutting pollution.
Children are encouraged to be as creative
as they like and can use anything to produce
their poster, from pencil crayons to recycled
paper. The posters will be judged in three
age categories, 4-7 years, 8-11 years and
12-16 years. The winners of each age category
will receive a new mountain bike donated
by the Environment Agency Isle of Wight
office, the Green Island Awards and Southern
Water. Runners-up will win a membership
to Wildlife Watch, the junior membership
club of The Wildlife Trust.
The winning posters will be made into large
posters to be displayed at the Environment
Agency Isle of Wight office and on poster
boards at the Red Funnel Red jet terminal
in West Cowes and on Red Funnel ferries.
They will also be used on the Environment
Agency’s website and on promotional materials.
Jerry Hallam, Environment Agency Isle of
Wight Team Leader, said: “We don’t want
anybody to miss out on this great competition.
The entries are coming in already but we
want to get every Island child who cares
about the environment to get involved.
“We hope that by running the competition
and getting children to think about their
effect on the environment this will encourage
good environmental behaviour that they will
carry on throughout their lives and transfer
to their families and friends.”
Island MP Andrew Turner said: "I am
very pleased to support this competition.
It is a great way to get our future generations
to think about the impact they have on their
surroundings and the environment. I hope
that lots of Island children will enter
and very much look forward to seeing the
winning entries."
Andy Shaddick, Public Affairs Manager,
for Southern Water, said: "We are delighted
to get involved in this fantastic campaign
and sponsor a prize. Climate change is something
that could dramatically affect the amount
of water we have available in the future,
so it is important we act now.
"We are working hard to secure supplies
and reduce leakage, but it is also important
that we promote water efficiency messages
to our customers. By being water wise you
are reducing your carbon footprint as it
takes energy to treat, pump and heat water,
so you are helping not to waste energy as
well as water by turning off hosepipes or
fixing a leaky tap."
Jonathan Green, Head of Marketing and Communications
at Red Funnel, commented: “We believe it
is important to consider how we call all
reduce our carbon footprint and be kinder
to the environment. Red Funnel already recycles
office waste, prints literature on recycled
paper and uses low-sulphur fuel onboard
the ships but this is just the start. We
are delighted to be able to support this
initiative and by displaying the winning
posters we hope to encourage more people
to think about their impact on the environment.”
Any child, school or youth group who would
like details of the competition can contact
Elisa Wilson on 01962 764890 for details.
The closing date for entries is Friday 02
November 2007. Environment Agency staff
and Island MP Andrew Turner will judge the
competition.
All entries need to be sent to External
Relations, Environment Agency, Colvedene
Court, Wessex Way, Colden Common, Winchester,
SO21 1WP.
+ More
Environment Agency reminds farmers about
sheep dip law
Alexandra Wales - 15-Oct-2007 - Farmers
across Northumberland and County Durham
have been warned that they could face a
fine of up to £50,000 if they dispose
of their sheep dip illegally.
Officers from the Environment Agency are
reminding farmers that they need authorisation
from them if they are disposing of sheep
dip on land.
At this time of year, many farmers are
dipping flocks to protect against sheep
scab, but the chemicals can pollute water
supplies and harm aquatic life.
Their warning comes after sheep dip found
its way into a private drinking water supply
recently, and the Environment Agency is
now looking at potential court action.
Area senior environment officer Jackie
Hamer said: “Thousands of sheep are dipped
every year in the region and we are urging
farmers to help protect the health of the
environment as well as the health of their
flocks.
“We have many good quality streams and
rivers but careless disposal of sheep dip
on land can find its way into the groundwater
and then into a waterway which can wipe
out entire eco-systems, and land the culprit
with a massive fine.”
Sheep dips contain organophosphates and
can be toxic to humans and aquatic life.
It is also important to be careful about
moving wet sheep after dipping because this
can also lead to pollution.
Anyone wishing to dispose of used sheep
dip on to land requires a Groundwater Authorisation
from the Environment Agency.
These have been required since 1998, and
specify which area of land can be used,
and how much, how often and when dip can
be disposed of. This minimises the risk
of damage to soils, groundwater and surface
water such as streams and rivers.
Defra has also published a Groundwater
Protection Code which gives advice on how
the Groundwater Regulations 1998 apply to
sheep dipping and disposal of used dip,
and what should be done before, during and
after dipping to protect groundwater.
The code can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/ground/sheepdip/
and for further information about Groundwater
Authorisations, contact the Environment
Agency on 08708 506 506 (Mon-Fri 8-6).
