Company fined for killing fish and polluting Sirhowy River
Environment Agency 26 September 2007
FKI Switchgear of Blackwood, a subsidiary of Hawker Siddeley Swithchgear Limited, pleaded guilty to causing trade effluent to enter the River Sirhowy in Blackwood and killing over 1200 fish. The company was fined £5450 with costs of £1725 after Environment Agency Wales brought the prosecution at Caerphilly Magistrates' Court on 24th September 2007.
FKI Switchgear pleaded guilty to two charges:
- Section 4 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. Fined £4000
- Section 85 of the Water Resources Act 1991. Fined £1450
A member of The Rhymney and Sirhowy Flylife monitoring group reported the incident. This is group, led by local anglers, was established as a pilot to the national flylife project, and launched in March 2006. EAW assisted in training anglers to identify macroinvertebrate life. Every month the group has monitored the Rhymney River and in July 2006 the group expanded to monitor the River Sirhowy.
Following the case Agency Environment Officer John Rock said: "This incident caused significant damage to local fish populations on the River Sirhowy. We hope that this successful prosecution will make businesses and individuals aware of their responsibilities to comply with environmental regulations and to prevent water pollution. Many thousands of pollution incidents occur each year, originating from factories, farms, transport activities and even homes. Each incident is an offence and can result in prosecution as well as environmental damage. Most cases are avoidable if operations are planned properly and suitable facilities are arranged to reduce the risk of spillage.
River pollution costs Tredegar company £30,000
Environment Agency 2 November 2007
Bio Tech Oils UK Ltd of Tafarnaubach Industrial Estate, Tredegar has been fined £19,000 with full costs of £1,861 after pleading guilty to causing polluting matter (glycerine and fatty acids) to enter the Nant y Bwch and River Sirhowy in the Tredegar area in June of this year. The prosecution was brought by Environment Agency Wales at Abergavenny Magistrates’ Court today (31 October).
At the time of the incident the Environment Agency arranged a clean up, costing more than £10,000 in an attempt to limit further damage downstream. This cost will also be passed on to the company.
BioTech Oils UK Ltd pleaded guilty on three charges:
- Section 81 of the Water Resources Act 1991. Fined £8,000
- Section 32 of the Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations 2000. Fined £8000.
- Section 4 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. Fined £3000.
On Tuesday 5 June 2007, Environment Agency Wales officers were called out to attend a pollution incident on the River Sirhowy in Tredegar. The pollution caused the river water to turn white, in many places a thick creamy layer of an unknown substance was visible. Approximately five miles of the river was affected.
Investigations followed the pollution to a confluence with the Nant Y Bwch later found to drain from the Tafarnaubach Industrial Estate. Agency investigations continued through the night and into the following morning, assisted by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water engineers. The source of the pollution was found to be a site on the industrial estate, operated by Biotech Oils UK Limited.
This incident had affected water quality and caused the death of approximately 13,000 fish, along with other wildlife, including a kingfisher and other acquatic insects.
Sheep dip in the press
Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust 22 Feb 06
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Riverfly Conference 'How good is your river?'
Natural History Museum (for the Riverfly Partnership) 7 Mar 07
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