Public To Help Target Mallusk Fish Kills

The public's help is being sought to help prevent further industrial pollution killing fish in Co Antrim rivers.

After criticism over apparent 'powerlessness' to detect and prosecute those companies behind a series of deadly fish kills blamed on a Co Antrim industrial estate, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has revealed the action it has taken to tackle high-risk pollution threats on the Mallusk Industrial estate.

It has been revealed today that this includes a call for members of the public to be the 'eyes and ears' of the pollution control agency, to help in responding quickly to pollution incidents and catching polluters.

It was announced today that work involving the pollution risk assessment of 300 businesses was intensified in the wake of two fish kills this year on the Six Mile Water River, the Agency identified 20 sites which posed a high risk of pollution.

Staff issued four 'Notices' to companies, 16 'Pre-Notices' and took four sets of statutory samples with a view to prosecution.

Following the statutory samples, two cases were recommended for prosecution, while results have still to be confirmed in the remaining two cases.

NI Environment Minister Sammy Wilson said: "Since the two fish kill incidents this year, NIEA staff have intensified their efforts to address the problem of pollution incidents on the river and ensure businesses are fully aware of what is expected of them.

"During the survey of businesses on the site, staff identified a range of potential pollutants on 20 high risk sites including oil, chemicals, cleaning materials and concrete.

"NIEA carried out site investigations and extensive drainage surveys and discussed the seriousness of the risks and the implications for the environment and the companies concerned with site managers.

"The Notices and Pre-Notices issued to companies contained details of the work required to mitigate or stop pollution within a specific time frame.

"Those businesses and other businesses on the industrial estate are under no illusion about what they should do and that we will be checking whether they are complying," he said, stressing the need for the public to help NIEA eliminate the pollution risk from businesses.

The Minister said: "Just as the police cannot be on every street corner to anticipate a crime, NIEA cannot be on every blade of grass along a river bank or at every drain to anticipate a pollution incident.

"We need members of the public to be our eyes and ears and to work with the Agency in responding quickly to pollution incidents and catching polluters.

"If anyone has information that a company is regularly flouting the law or indeed is responsible for a particular incident they should immediately bring that to the attention of the water pollution team," he said, noting the water pollution hotline 0800 807060.

See: Fish Kills Targeted

(BMcC)