Company fined for polluting brook with hazardous chemicals
Firth Rixson Metals Ltd has been fined for polluting a watercourse in Glossop in during 2015.
An Environment Agency investigation of the incident, which was reported by a member of the public, identified a large number of dead fish within a 500 metre stretch. Samples taken from the Shelf Brook identified highly alkaline liquid contaminating the watercourse.
The investigation found that a valve supplying water to a scrubber unit had been left open and that staff failed to respond properly to alarms. Additionally a pump, which should have returned the solution, failed to activate. This led to a highly alkaline solution overflowing from a containment bund serving the scrubber. Liquid overflowed into a nearby drain, entering the brook.
The Environment Agency identified that more than 600 litres of a solution of hydrochloric acid, caustic soda and water had been released.
The court also heard that the company had failed to cap the drain, despite recent advice from local authority inspectors.
Breach
Firth Rixson Metals Ltd pleaded guilty to causing a water discharge activity not under and to the extent authorised by an Environmental Permit, breaching the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010
Penalty
Firth Rixson Metals Ltd was fined £80,000 for the incident.
Coach firm fined for polluting river with toilet waste
A luxury coach company has been fined after it was found that toilets had been emptied into surface water drains, rather than taking it to an approved site for disposal.
Monitoring devices operated by the Environment Agency identified the pollution incident, which affected the River Crane. Officers traced the source of the pollution to Symphony Chauffeurs Ltd’s premises.
The investigation also found that dirty water and cleaning chemicals had been discharged to surface water drains after vehicles were washed on the premises.
The company was charged for allowing poisonous, noxious or polluting matter into the River Crane, between May 2015 and February 2016, and failing to provide the Environment Agency with documents relating to their activities.
Penalty
Symphony Chauffeurs Ltd was fined £18,000 with £12,113.62 in costs and a victim surcharge of £170.
The Sole Director of the firm was also fined £3,134 for allowing Symphony to commit the offences and also had to pay a victim surcharge of £142.
Enforcement Undertaking secures environmental benefits financing for communities impacted by Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) pollution
SEPA has accepted its first major enforcement undertaking offered under the Environmental Regulation (Enforcement Measures) (Scotland) Order 2015. This is only the fourth undertaking accepted since these powers were introduced in June 2016.
The enforcement undertaken was offered by the joint venture construction company building the AWPR in relation to a series of silt pollution incidents affecting the rivers Dee and Don in Aberdeenshire.
The offer of enforcement undertaking was developed through consultation with local stakeholders and provides funding across eight community initiatives.
Funding Offered
AWPR B-T Construction Joint Venture offered to pay £280,850 to eight community organisations.
The Dee District Salmon Fishery Board will receive the largest contribution of £150,000 for improvement projects relating to diffuse pollution and to fund an Agricultural Officer for 2 years to assist farm owners in reducing diffuse pollution.
In addition to the offer, SEPA will receive £47,958 to cover their costs.
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