QUARRY FIRM IS ORDERED TO ACT AFTER OFFICIALS SPOT BREACHES
Waste odours ‘likely to cause pollution outside site’ says regulator
THE operator of Walleys Quarry has been issued with an enforcement notice after officials identified two minor permit breaches.
The Environment Agency (EA) – which regulates the Silverdale site – identified the breaches by Red Industries on a visit last week.
One relates to waste odours, which the EA says were perceived to be levels ‘likely to cause pollution outside the site’. It says Red Industries had not taken the steps to mitigate the odours at the Cemetery Road site.
The second related to the company’s management systems and operations.
It has given Red Industries until April 30 to take action on the odours.
An EA spokesman said it continues ‘to receive high numbers of complaints about odour’ from families and others in Silverdale, Newcastle, and surrounding areas.
He added “Following an inspection of the site and surrounding areas on March 23, 2021, and a review of the progress made by Red Industries on actions related to capping the site and managing landfill gas, we have issued an enforcement notice.
“In this inspection we have identified a further two breaches of the company’s permit and, in line with our regulatory procedures, we have issued Red Industries with the actions they need to take to address these breaches in a Compliance Assessment Report.
“To address this, today (Friday 26
March), the Environment Agency has issued Red Industries with an enforcement notice outlining the specific steps Red Industries urgently needs to take to address the issues.
“The Environment Agency has given Red Industries until April 30, 2021 to make the necessary improvements to its management system and operating procedures to comply with its permit.”
During their visit to the site, EA officials noted that surface water and groundwater discharges had ceased and most of the water from the lagoon had been removed for treatment.
The EA accepts that while Red Industries agreed to stop landfill operations this month, the odour will remain until it is capped off.
Previously The Sentinel reported Red said it was ‘contamination not linked to landfill’ that was causing the stink across Newcastle.
A spokesman said: “Independent testing commissioned by us has shown a likely source of hydrogen sulphide contamination in the area which is not linked to the landfill site. Our environmental experts have advised that this is associated with groundwater.
“Furthermore it is not possible that it is originating from Walleys Quarry. With immediate effect we have asked for further independent scientific investigations to take place.
“We have advised the Environment Agency, the council’s environmental health department and the Health and Safety Executive and urged them to carry out their own tests urgently to determine the source and conduits of this odour.”
The EA says it is looking into the claims and has been in touch with Severn Trent Water and the Coal Authority.