19-May-2006 - The Environment
Agency has today (Friday) granted Swan Hunter
a licence modification to allow it to dismantle
ships at its yard in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear.
The company already had an existing
waste management licence to dismantle oil and
gas rigs there.
Swan Hunter's proposed method
of working involves a floating dry dock used to
tow ships into the yard before being sealed to
prevent any potentially contaminated materials
escaping.
Environment Agency manager Graham
Donachie said: "As part of our process to
determine this application the company has had
to carry out a full assessment of any possible
impact its process could have on the environment
and human health.
"Proper measures need to
be put in place to prevent any environmental harm
and Swan Hunter has provided us with the technical
information to show us that this can be done.
"As part of the Environment
Agency's regulation of the site, we will be visiting
it on a regular basis to ensure it is meeting
the conditions set down in the modified waste
management licence."
The company's licence allows
it to handle permitted wastes up to120,000 tonnes
per year. The modification has added ships to
the permitted list of wastes.
Details of the Environment Agency
's decision and a copy of the licence modification
are available for inspection at its Newcastle
office.
Ends
Note to editors
The licence modification has
been issued, but the Environment Agency will need
the company to submit a combined working plan
for our approval. No ships can be dismantled until
this has been agreed in writing by the Environment
Agency.
