Double fine for water pollution
Posted: Wednesday 29th August 2007
A Glasgow company disregarded warnings from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) about its Lanarkshire operation and subsequently caused pollution of nearby watercourses on two separate occasions.
Doonin Plant Limited was fined a total of £8000 for two offences at Lanark Shefiff Court yesterday (22 August 2007).
The company pled guilty to two charges, both concerning their operations at the former Boghead Reservoir, Lesmahagow:-
Not complying with a notice served by SEPA Officers to make repairs and modifications to the settlement lagoon at the Boghead site to prevent silt contaminated water from the lagoon entering nearby watercourses in May 2006. The company was fined £3000.
Operating a settlement lagoon in such a manner that water contaminated with suspended solids discharged from the lagoon into the White Corse Burn without the authority of an environmental authorisation in September 2006. The company was fined £5000.
On both of the above occasions, officers from SEPA visited the Boghead site and found evidence of pollutants leaving the operations site and polluting the burns around it. Settlement lagoons are designed to catch and store pollutants from quarrying and construction work, to stop them being carried by rain water into nearby watercourses.
Iain Cruickshank, lead investigating officer for SEPA, said: “This company had been warned about its poor environmental practices before May 2006 but continued to pay little attention to them, leading to further problems and a second pollution incident, in September.
“Operations of this kind have huge potential to cause environmental damage. Legislation is in place to ensure that does not happen by putting the responsibility to protect the environment on to the company carrying out the works. This company ignored the legislation and paid little attention to the guidance and advice offered to them by SEPA staff. Both incidents could have been avoided with some careful planning.”
Colin Bayes, SEPA's Director of Environmental Protection and Improvement, added: "We want to help people avoid pollution and advice on how to do that is easily available from our staff, offices and www.sepa.org.uk. The NetRegs website, www.netregs.gov.uk, also offers clear guidance on environmental rules and regulations.
“However, if a pollution incident occurs, we urge anyone to let us know straight away by calling our 24 hour pollution report line, 0800 80 70 60, giving as many details as possible so effective action can be taken."
