On the 5th December 2002 agreement was reached and signed between SEPA and the Coal Authority regarding the control and treatment of rising contaminated mine water in the East Fife Coalfield. The agreement requires the Coal Authority to control the mine water rise when it reaches a certain level in the coalfield to prevent potential future uncontrolled breakout of the water at the surface.

The control will be effected by pumping the water to the surface at the former Frances Colliery where it will be treated to raise its pH and passed into settlement lagoons to reduce its iron content. The treated water will then be discharged to the Firth of Forth. This discharge will be formally consented by SEPA and monitored to ensure there will be no impact on the environment. Pumping and treatment is expected to start at the end of January 2003, when the trigger water levels underground are expected to be reached.

Colin Bayes, SEPA’s Environmental Regulation and Implementation Manager, said: “We are pleased to have reached a revised agreement with the Coal Authority to allow the controlled flooding of the mine workings with extensive precautionary monitoring. We can now work on a long term sustainable solution that will protect the water quality of the River Leven and Firth of Forth.”




ENDS