20/02/2006 - Tower Colliery,
Hirwaun has been fined £4,000 after
pleading guilty to causing pollution to
enter the Rivers Cynon and Taff and to exceeding
their discharge consent for suspended solids
on 17 March 2005. The company was also ordered
to pay the full costs of £1,956.50
to Environment Agency Wales who brought
the prosecution. The company pleaded guilty
to two charges at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates
Court on 15 February 2006.
Causing polluting matter to enter a controlled
water, namely the Nant y Cnapiau and thereby
the Rivers Cynon and Taff, an offence under
Section 85(1) of the Water Resources Act
1991 (WRA 91)
Exceeding their consent limit for suspended
solids. Section 85(6) of WRA 91.
The company were fined £2,000 on each
charge.
The discharge occurred following structural
alterations the company had made to its
water treatment system. The resultant disturbance
caused water to become so heavily contaminated
with coal and shale particles that the treatment
system was unable to cope.
The discharge caused significant pollution
in the Nant y Cnapiau, River Cynon and River
Taff and was visible as far as Pontypridd,
17 miles downstream of Tower Colliery.
Fortunately on this occasion no fish were
killed as a result of the incident.
The company and their consultants are continuing
discussions with the Agency in order to
address the site drainage issue and substantial
improvement measures have already been started
and should be completed this year.
Environment Agency Officer Joseph Barr
commented: 'We will continue to closely
monitor the site to ensure all reasonable
steps are taken in order to minimise any
impact from discharges off the site and
to ensure planned improvements are satisfactorily
completed.'
