SEPA North Board visits Aberdeen
Issued on 14 October 1997 - Ref 38/97

Members of the North Regional Board of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) visited Aberdeen on 8 and 9 October 1997 to see how some of the environmental problems facing the area are being dealt with. The Board toured a landfill site, a paper mill and the airport. Members also heard presentations on a range of issues, including innovative solutions to dealing with polluted surface water at a new Aberdeen housing development.

Landfill site

The main environmental problems associated with landfill arise from the polluted water and gases which leak from the sites. At the Tarbothill landfill site, SEPA members were able to see two modern solutions to these problems: in terms of polluted water, Tarbothill is the only fully contained site in the North East - a special lining allows leachate to be controlled. To deal with landfill gas a new extraction system has been installed, and the gas is flared off, greatly reducing the levels of methane released into the atmosphere. It is possible that, in future, gas flaring may be harnessed for electricity generation, providing an even more sustainable solution to the problem.

Paper Mill

Paper has been made at the Stoneywoods paper mill since 1770. The company has recently spent around £1.5m on upgrading the Mill’s effluent treatment plant by providing additional aeration and sand filters to ‘polish’ the effluent. The result is much cleaner effluent, well below the limits set by SEPA. This has led to a significant reduction in the pollution load being discharged into the River Don.

Airport

At airports, environmental conflict can arise when water containing elements of oil and de-icing fluids from the runway and apron areas finds its way into nearby watercourses. At Aberdeen, £6.5m has been invested in new oil interceptors, a diversionary pipework system and an education programme designed to instruct tenants and staff on how to measure and react to traces of contaminants in run-off waters. In addition, the construction of a lagoon to trap run-off allows a slow, measured release into watercourses, which reduces the biological load into burns and rivers.

Surface water

New developments such as road construction and housing estates can greatly reduce the impact of pollution from surface water run-off by using ‘Best Management Practices’. BMPs include porous car park surfaces, grass swales, ponds and infiltration trenches filled with stones. These features filter pollution and reduce the impact on local watercourses. SEPA is requiring consideration of incorporation of these into a 300 house development at Westhill, Aberdeen.

SEPA

The North Regional Board of SEPA covers the whole of North Scotland from Aberdeen to Stornoway and from Ft William to Lerwick. It advises the main Agency Board on environmental issues which are of particular relevance to the North, and provides advice to SEPA North staff on the handling of major issues. Members have been selected for their experience and expertise in business, industry, the environment, agriculture and local government (see list below).

MEMBERSHIP: SEPA NORTH REGIONAL BOARD

Councillor Mrs Jennifer Shaw, (Chairman), Elgin
Joint proprietor of a family farming and farm tourism partnership; Councillor with Moray Council.

Councillor John Brown, Stromness, Orkney.
Geologist oil industry; Councillor with Orkney Islands Council.

Mrs Marina Dennis, Nethy Bridge, Inverness-shire.
Crofter and member of the National Farmers Union Scotland; Strong interest and involvement in Environmental Issues.

Councillor William Fulton, Kyle of Lochalsh, Ross-shire.
Councillor with the Highland Council; Involvement in marine pollution prevention and waste management strategy.

Mr David Glass, Thurso, Caithness.
Engineer with experience in engineering and management at Dounreay; member of the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

Mr Raymond Grant, Aberdeen.
General Manager, Shanks & McEwan waste management operations; Member of UKOOA Waste Group (United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association).

Councillor Brian Gregson, Yell, Shetland.
Project Manager with Shetland Telecentres; Councillor with Shetland Islands Council.

Councillor George Holden, Ardgay, Sutherland.
Hill farmer and a Councillor with the Highland Council.

Councillor Mrs Janet Home, Inverness.
Councillor with the Highland Council.

Mr Alastair Hume, Milltimber, Aberdeen.
Retired Bank Manager; Founder member of the Scottish Anglers National Association.

Mr Robert Kelly, Torrin, Isle of Skye.
Salmon farmer; member of the Scottish Salmon Growers Association (SSGA).

Mr Ian Lambart, Garmouth, Moray.
Environmental Manager with United Distillers

Mr John MacAulay, Inverness.
Experience with P & O Scottish Ferries and the boat charter business; member of Highland & Moray Firth District Marine Safety Sub Committee.

Mr Douglas McLeod, Ardvasar, Isle of Skye.
Shellfish Farmer and Economics Consultant

Councillor Roderick J Murray, Stornoway
Councillor with Western Isles Council

Mr Peter Wardle, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.
Chemical Engineer with Hydro-Electric, Peterhead Power Station.

Dr Mark Young, Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire.
Senior Lecturer in zoology and freshwater ecologist; Member of Oldmeldrum Community Council.

ENDS

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