5-Apr-2006 - Fuel company
Texaco Limited and a local fisherman were fined
by Alnwick Magistrates’ Court on Monday 3 April,
for a spill of diesel at Boulmer Village.
Texaco Limited was ordered to
pay a £2,000 fine and £783 costs.
Ian McQueen, 59, of Boulmer Village, Northumberland,
was also fined £120 and £500 costs.
The court heard that Texaco
Limited delivered diesel to fisherman McQueen,
with no previous problem, but on May 17, 2005
an Environment Agency officer met a tanker driver
at Boulmer Village where a spill of diesel had
taken place from the filling of a mobile bowser,
used to fill boats. A number of litres had been
delivered before the fuel tank became unbalanced
and tipped up.
Texaco Limited was told of the
spill and sent out contractors to start a clear
up.
Officers were concerned that
the spill was discharging onto nearby Boulmer
beach – classed as a site of Special Scientific
Interest. The spill contaminated water, ground
and rock pools, causing a pollution incident that
visibly affected wildlife.
Environment Agency lead investigating
officer Ross Lowrie said: “This was an unfortunate
incident that was totally avoidable. The Northumberland
coastline is one of the region’s best assets and
all businesses have a duty to protect it, from
the fisherman to the multinational oil supplier.
“Fortunately the spill was dealt
with properly and there has been no long-term
impact on this ecologically-important coastline,
but lessons should be learnt. The law states that
new oil storage containers must have secondary
containment in case of a spill and we advise that
they are sited in a secure place so accidents
like this don't happen.”
In mitigation it was said that
McQueen did not know how the spill had happened.
He was sorry the incident had happened. He would
ensure that his tank was sited in a more appropriate
place when it came to be filled in future.
