An
investigation has been launched by the Environment
Agency to find the person or organisation
responsible for a polluting landfill in
Sunderland
Halliwell Banks, also
known as Ryhope Landfill, is a former quarry
on the coast three miles south of Sunderland,
that was filled with waste between the 1930s
and 1960s.
The waste is now in
danger of contaminating groundwater and
the coastline is eroding which could lead
to the waste contaminating the beach.
The site has a complicated
history, and the Environment Agency’s legal
team is now looking at who may be responsible
for the contamination.
In the meantime, contaminated
land officers are working with Durham Heritage
Coast Partnership to find out how fast the
section of coastline is eroding.
Environment Agency contaminated
land specialist Sue Goodman said: “The current
information we have shows that it could
take between four and five years before
the coastal erosion breaches the landfill.
Under the legislation we need to find who
is responsible for the contamination and
get them to take action to deal with the
problem.“
Heritage coast officer
Niall Benson said: “It is vital that the
correct solution is found to this landfill
legacy, a solution that will not only remove
the immediate risk, but also any long term
risks to our environment. The coast here
is a very special place and with our partners’
help we will secure safe and welcoming access
for the local community and visitors alike,
whilst protecting the wonderful wildlife
found here. ”
The 35-hectare site
was used by numerous organisations and is
thought to contain colliery spoil, rubble,
concrete, and domestic waste.
There are no records
of the quantities and the type of material
dumped in the former quarry because it was
being used prior to waste management licensing.
Under law, the Environment
Agency has to identify those responsible
for cleaning up the land otherwise it will
have to secure funding to tackle the problem
itself.
Officers are looking
at different options for remediating the
site which could include the treatment or
removal of the contamination, or to do nothing
if that is proven to be the best course
of action.
Sunderland City Council
investigated the extent of the contamination
and last winter, it formally classified
the site as ‘contaminated land’ under Part
II A of the Environmental Protection Act
11000. This is necessary because it sets
out how the contamination should be dealt
with, in accordance with the legislation.
In November the council
handed responsibility for the site to the
Environment Agency which in law takes over
when there is a high risk of aquifers being
contaminated by contaminants.
+ More
River Irk Pollution
Incident
The Environment Agency
is continuing an investigation into a pollution
incident that occurred on the River Irk
today (14 April 2009).
The Environment Agency
is continuing an investigation into a pollution
incident that occurred on the River Irk
today.
Environment Officers
attended the scene this morning following
a series of calls from members of the public,
who reported a mass of foam collecting on
the surface of the river around Middleton.
Environment Officers
have been present at the site all day to
determine the source of the pollution, and
to investigate any environmental impact.
Despite many reports of dead fish, Environment
Officers have found few – however the full
impact of the pollution will not be determined
until the foam has cleared.
Karen Glasgow, Investigating
Officer said: “We expect the foam will disperse
gradually and will be diluted through the
natural water flows. We will not be deploying
absorbent devices (booms) as they will not
soak up the foam.
Since the investigation
began this morning, Environment Officers
have now narrowed their search to an outfall
along the river wall, where they believe
the pollution is coming from. Officers are
monitoring outputs from this spot.
Karen continued: “We
have taken water samples from the outfall,
and we expect the results of these within
approximately one week. Once our investigations
are concluded, we will look to take appropriate
enforcement action against those found responsible.”
