Post by Hoppy on Jul 22, 2007 12:37:50 GMT -1
River pollution costs quarry company over £3300
Hanson Quarry Products Europe Limited have this week been ordered to pay over £3300 in fines and costs at Llandudno Magistrates Court for polluting a tributary of the Afon Gele, Abergele, in a prosecution brought by Environment Agency Wales.
The company, whose registered offices is at The Ridge, Chipping Sodbury, Bristol, pleaded guilty to polluting the Bodoryn Cut, a tributary of the Afon Gele, from their quarry at St George, near Abergele.
The company was fined £2000 and ordered to pay £1332.35 in costs to the Agency.
The company had allowed surface water contaminated with fine material from the quarrying process to be discharged into the Cut after a period of heavy rainfall on the 27 March 2006. This had caused the discolouration of around 2-3km of the stream and had caused a rise in the pH levels.
Although there was no evidence of any damage to aquatic life, the court was told that there had been a potential risk to the stream. High amounts of sediment in the water are known to cause damage to fish gills, and can effect the spawning grounds of important species such as salmon and trout.
The Agency accepted that the company had done considerable remedial works on site since the incident to make sure a repeat of the incident is less likely. The Agency will continue to work with the company in the future to limit damage to the environment at the site.
Aled Zachary, speaking for the Agency said:
"This case shows that modern day aggregate production sites must be careful and consider the effect they can have on the environment. Sediment and silt entering any river can have a serious impact on its ecology and the creatures who live there.
"We are always looking to work with industries to avoid any pollution incident but we will not hesitate to take the appropriate enforcement action if necessary."
Hanson Quarry Products Europe Limited have this week been ordered to pay over £3300 in fines and costs at Llandudno Magistrates Court for polluting a tributary of the Afon Gele, Abergele, in a prosecution brought by Environment Agency Wales.
The company, whose registered offices is at The Ridge, Chipping Sodbury, Bristol, pleaded guilty to polluting the Bodoryn Cut, a tributary of the Afon Gele, from their quarry at St George, near Abergele.
The company was fined £2000 and ordered to pay £1332.35 in costs to the Agency.
The company had allowed surface water contaminated with fine material from the quarrying process to be discharged into the Cut after a period of heavy rainfall on the 27 March 2006. This had caused the discolouration of around 2-3km of the stream and had caused a rise in the pH levels.
Although there was no evidence of any damage to aquatic life, the court was told that there had been a potential risk to the stream. High amounts of sediment in the water are known to cause damage to fish gills, and can effect the spawning grounds of important species such as salmon and trout.
The Agency accepted that the company had done considerable remedial works on site since the incident to make sure a repeat of the incident is less likely. The Agency will continue to work with the company in the future to limit damage to the environment at the site.
Aled Zachary, speaking for the Agency said:
"This case shows that modern day aggregate production sites must be careful and consider the effect they can have on the environment. Sediment and silt entering any river can have a serious impact on its ecology and the creatures who live there.
"We are always looking to work with industries to avoid any pollution incident but we will not hesitate to take the appropriate enforcement action if necessary."