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A quarry firm near Inverness has been fined £4000 for causing water pollution. Alexander Ross and Sons (Sand and Gravel) Ltd was found guilty of the offence at Inverness Sheriff Court today.
The incident occurred on 27 May 2002 after a local resident contacted SEPA to say that the Mid Lairgs burn was highly discoloured. SEPA officers immediately investigated the complaint and found that heavy vehicles, which were being used to reinstate part of the Mid Lairgs quarry, had driven through site drains. The silty water had then entered drainage ditches which led to the Mid Lairgs burn.
Vicky Reilly, of SEPA's Dingwall office, said: "It is very disappointing that this incident occurred, especially as SEPA officers had visited the quarry a week before for a similar incident and warned the company to take steps to prevent pollution. We hope that the outcome of this case will highlight the cost of causing pollution and show that neither SEPA nor the court will tolerate poor practices that result in pollution.’
The Mid Lairgs burn is a tributary of the River Nairn, which is a popular salmon fishing river. Silt and similar material in the water can damage the gills of fish, especially juveniles. The silt deposted on the riverbed can also seriously affect spawning beds and can smother invertebrate life that is an important source of food for fish.
It is important that companies, including those in the construction industry, consider the environmental impact of their actions and to take steps to ensure that pollution does not occur. SEPA has various guidance notes available free of charge from its offices and at www.sepa.org.uk.
Vicky added: “This incident could have been prevented, as SEPA officers witnessed during the investigation, when the operator diverted the drainage channel to a contained settlement lagoon within a matter of minutes. This shows that with some planning and ongoing monitoring such incidents can be avoided at very little cost, if any, to the operator.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
The charge states: "...having on 20 May 2002 been advised by an officer of SEPA that contaminated surface water from the road at the aftermentioned quarry had drained into a tributary of the Mid Lairgs Burn , on 27 May 2002 at Midlairgs Quarry, Daviot you Alexander Ross & Sons (Sand and Gravel) Limited did cause or knowingly permit poisonous, noxious or polluting matter or solid matter namely surface water or other effluent containing suspended solids to enter controlled waters namely the Mid Lairgs burn by of a drainage ditch contrary to Section 30F (1) of CoPA 1974."
Contact
Stewart Argo, public relations officer - 01224 248338, 07799 477972
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