Hartlepool, England: A north east company was fined £22000 yesterday for failing to appropriately treat asbestos waste in line with pollution regulations.
The company which recently received planning permission to dismantle the American so called "ghost ships", Able UK Holdings - parent company to Able UK and Alab Environmental Services (AES) - pleaded guilty at Hartlepool Magistrates Court on two counts.
The prosecution was brought by the Environment Agency and related to asbestos disposal operations at the Seaton Meadows Landfill Site, Hartlepool which is operated by AES, though the permit for the site is understood to be held by Able UK.
A redundant American warship sailing to Hartlepool to be dismantled
The Court heard that in October 2005, a visiting Agency official found that the main tipping area for asbestos had broken bonded asbestos in it and a machine was moving the material. There was no apparent dampening of the materials to prevent asbestos fibres being released, according to Trevor Cooper prosecuting for the Environment Agency.
An Agency officer again visited the site in January 2006 and found similar activities.
Able UK holdings admitted the offence, but in mitigation said that the first was due to difficulties in obtaining cover material because of equipment breakdown. On the second occasion a sub-contractor failed to follow site safety instructions.
After the case, Ian Fenny, operations director of Alab, said:
"We obviously regret the circumstances which led to today's hearing and which resulted from a combination of unfortunate and unforeseeable mechanical problems and human error."
Andrew Dobson, Environment Agency officer, said:
"The regulations specify strict controls on the disposal of hazardous waste, including asbestos, with the purpose of minimising the risk of harm to people and the environment.
"Failure to adhere to the requirements of these regulations potentially increased the risk of asbestos fibre release and I am pleased that the court has viewed this incident so seriously."
Ghost ships
In October this year, Able UK obtained planning approval to dispose of the four redundant US Navy warships moored near Hartlepool.
Hartlepool Council had originally rejected the application against the advice of its officers and with other issues this led to delay in the planning approval for several years.
The effect of the delay was that Able UK lost part of its contract for a further nine vessels to be dismantled and it is understood that the company is seeking to recover costs of up to £1m from the Council.