SCOTLAND’S environmental regulator is to carry out a formal regulatory investigation into the ongoing flaring at a Scottish chemical plant.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) announced the probe yesterday as flaring at ExxonMobil Chemical’s Mossmorran Fife Ethylene Plant entered a fifth day and after the environment watchdog received an “unprecedented number of complaints”.
It comes as Green MSP Mark Ruskell called for the Scottish Government to take action.
“The fact that over 600 complaints have been received to date by Sepa’s 24 hour Pollution Hotline about Mossmorran flaring – one of the highest number for any single event – shows the depth of feeling there is on this issue,” said Ruskell.
“It’s not good enough for Sepa to just respond with a new investigation. There have been multiple investigations and ExxonMobil has already been given a final warning. In my book, when a final warning is breached, fines or other sanctions should follow. The Government must now take firm action against those responsible.
Chemical flaring happens when gas which cannot be processed properly is burned to relieve pressure, without the need for dumping dangerous chemicals into the atmosphere.
ExxonMobil Chemical said the incidents were “very rare” and that there was no cause for concern.
The move follows “final warning letters” issued to ExxonMobil Chemical around this time last year, which related to “preventable and unacceptable” flaring, as well as Sepa and Health and Safety Executive investigations in 2018 and a tightening of permit conditions.
“The unprecedented number of complaints we have received is a clear message and it’s one that we have heard powerfully and clearly,” said Sepa CEO Terry A’Hearn.
“The Mossmorran complex is a major industrial facility, where this type of flaring is a legitimate safety mechanism, but it’s been happening too often, and the current level and extent of the flaring from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited is unacceptable.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here