Seed firm fined in UK pollution case

17 October 1997 15:05  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (CNI)--A seed company in Somerset, southwest England has been ordered to pay a total of £70 000 ($113 400) in fines and costs for offences connected with the chemical pollution of a local stream two years ago.

The UK Environment Agency, which brought the prosecution, confirmed Friday that Bonds (Grain) Ltd of Somerton was fined a total of £45 000 with £25 000 costs at Exeter Crown Court Wednesday for three breaches of the Environmental Protection Act.

It was established that on 13 August 1995 a demolition contractor working at the disused Bond's seed mill had deliberately poured up to 1000 litres of lindane and mercury down a drain at the site. Lindane is an organo-pesticide and wood preservative which is highly toxic to aquatic organisms. The drain discharged directly in the Mill Stream, a tributary of the River Carey. Fish and other aquatic life were killed and local people feared for their health during the incident, said the Environment Agency.

Bonds (Grain) had pleaded guilty on all three counts of keeping lindane and mercury (and another chemical - the organophosphate pesticide birlane - not related to the Mill Stream incident) in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health, contrary to Section 33 (1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The demolition contractor was found guilty last year of two offences under the Water Resources Act 1991 and two offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

By: Neil Sinclair
+44 20 8652 3214

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly