Scottish firm fined following illegal water works
Environmental update 25/08/2011
A river engineering firm based in Kiltarlity, Inverness-shire
has been fined after carrying out water works without the necessary
authorisation.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) prosecuted S D
Cameron Limited following the works. The firm pleaded guilty to
deepening and widening the Belladrum Burn without permission from
the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland)
Regulations 2005 (CAR).
S D Cameron admitted that it had removed sediment – such as
gravel, sand and stones – which resulted in the release of sediment
in both the Burn and the River Beauly, as well as the
discolouration of the water.
SEPA officers discovered that the work had been carried out
without the required licence and halted the firm immediately in
order to prevent any further damage to the waters. S D Cameron was
fined £30,000 at Inverness Sheriff Court as a result of its
actions.
SEPA's investigating officer, Peter Watson, said, “The nature of
S D Cameron Limited's business is to carry out contracting works,
including river engineering, and it is clear that they were aware
of the obligation to obtain a licence from SEPA before carrying out
this type of work.
“By not ensuring that such a licence was in place, before
beginning work, they prevented SEPA from undertaking an assessment
of the risks and imposing conditions which would have prevented a
significant impact on the water environment,” added Mr Watson.
SEPA is now encouraging firms who are planning to carry out work
relating to any water environment to contact them first to check
they have the appropriate authorisation to do so.
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