SEPA to Carry Out Independent Auditing Role at Holy Loch
Issued on 26 February 1998 - Ref W9802/02

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is pleased to have been involved in the drive to clean up debris from the Holy Loch. SEPA will carry out an independent audit monitoring role to ensure the highest environmental standards are maintained.

Issues associated with risks to the water, sedimentary and biological quality of the loch environment have been foremost in the discussions SEPA has had with the MOD, their consultants and other interested parties.

Having reviewed SEPA’s own data and the results available from the MOD’s consultants, a number of monitoring protocols and appropriate analyses have been agreed with SEPA, and these will continue throughout the period of the lifting operation. Safeguards are built in so that work will be ordered to stop if any particular thresholds are exceeded.

"The MOD is to be congratulated on this initiative which will remove the thousands of tonnes of rubbish left dumped and decaying on the sea bed," said John M Beveridge, Director of SEPA’s West Region.

"SEPA has campaigned publicly for this action for a number of years, and is pleased that the loch is to be restored to its natural state. We will, of course, be involved monitoring every stage of this major contract and look forward to the continued co-operation of the various parties involved."

ENDS

SEPA Press Office contacts

SEPA West Region Press Contacts
Public Relations Officer: Alison Hay. Tel: 01355 574226 Mobile 0467 325226
Email: alison.hay@sepa.org.uk

SEPA Head Office Press Contacts
Press Officer: Maggie Hamilton. Tel: 01786 457724 Mobile 0370 686073
Head of Public Affairs: Monica Straughan. Tel: 01786 457723 Mobile 0421 942498

SEPA Head Office, Erskine Court, The Castle Business Park, STIRLING FK9 4TR
Tel: 01786 457700 Fax: 01786 448040

Contact SEPA Head Office Public Affairs at publicrelations@sepa.org.uk

© SEPA 1998