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Major sites rated 'poor' on environment protection | Major sites rated 'poor' on environment protection |
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Some of Scotland's biggest industrial sites are failing to comply with environmental protection measures, BBC Scotland can reveal. | Some of Scotland's biggest industrial sites are failing to comply with environmental protection measures, BBC Scotland can reveal. |
Petroineos at Grangemouth and BP's Kinneil Terminal were each rated 'poor' along with two sites at Dounreay. | Petroineos at Grangemouth and BP's Kinneil Terminal were each rated 'poor' along with two sites at Dounreay. |
Another 51 fish farming sites are also rated as at risk, poor or very poor. | Another 51 fish farming sites are also rated as at risk, poor or very poor. |
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), which produced the figures, said environmental compliance is "non-negotiable". | The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), which produced the figures, said environmental compliance is "non-negotiable". |
The figures are a measure of how much sites are sticking to the terms of their operating licence. | The figures are a measure of how much sites are sticking to the terms of their operating licence. |
It shows that compliance in the waste sector has risen to 90.35% in 2016 compared with 72.48% in 2009. | It shows that compliance in the waste sector has risen to 90.35% in 2016 compared with 72.48% in 2009. |
Among food and drink manufacturers compliance has fallen from 90.94% in 2010 to 88.28 percent in 2016. | Among food and drink manufacturers compliance has fallen from 90.94% in 2010 to 88.28 percent in 2016. |
Scotland Food and Drink said it wants to go "beyond compliance and embrace world class standards" as a sector and insisted that companies which do not comply "have little future in our sector". | Scotland Food and Drink said it wants to go "beyond compliance and embrace world class standards" as a sector and insisted that companies which do not comply "have little future in our sector". |
Sepa chief executive Terry A'Hearn said it was rolling out new tools to ensure sites abide by the regulations. | Sepa chief executive Terry A'Hearn said it was rolling out new tools to ensure sites abide by the regulations. |
"We're clear, environmental compliance is non-negotiable," he said. | "We're clear, environmental compliance is non-negotiable," he said. |
"Every Scottish business will comply with the law, and we'll work to ensure as many as possible will go even further. | "Every Scottish business will comply with the law, and we'll work to ensure as many as possible will go even further. |
"This latest report card on the environmental performance of Scottish regulated businesses is encouraging, with significant outcomes achieved for Scottish communities. It's a reminder that we'll work positively with those who want to do the right thing by Scotland's environment, and a wake-up call to those that don't. | "This latest report card on the environmental performance of Scottish regulated businesses is encouraging, with significant outcomes achieved for Scottish communities. It's a reminder that we'll work positively with those who want to do the right thing by Scotland's environment, and a wake-up call to those that don't. |
"It's also an indicator of where we next need to focus our attention and why we're changing, creating a world-class environment protection agency fit for the challenges of tomorrow." | "It's also an indicator of where we next need to focus our attention and why we're changing, creating a world-class environment protection agency fit for the challenges of tomorrow." |
Penalties | Penalties |
Last year the agency was given a new suite of powers to enable it to tackle firms which are not complying with their environmental obligations. | Last year the agency was given a new suite of powers to enable it to tackle firms which are not complying with their environmental obligations. |
It led to the contractors who are building the Aberdeen bypass agreeing to pay a £280,000 penalty for polluting the River Don and the River Dee. | It led to the contractors who are building the Aberdeen bypass agreeing to pay a £280,000 penalty for polluting the River Don and the River Dee. |
For the first time, the Sepa Enforcement Report details the number of penalties it has issued throughout the year. | For the first time, the Sepa Enforcement Report details the number of penalties it has issued throughout the year. |
Twelve organisations were referred to the Crown Office to consider for prosecution with £92,575 of fines handed out by the courts. | Twelve organisations were referred to the Crown Office to consider for prosecution with £92,575 of fines handed out by the courts. |
There were statutory notices served for non-compliance, along with 113 final warning letters. | There were statutory notices served for non-compliance, along with 113 final warning letters. |
BP sold its Kinneil terminal at Grangemouth last year to Ineos as part of the Forties Pipeline System. | BP sold its Kinneil terminal at Grangemouth last year to Ineos as part of the Forties Pipeline System. |
A spokesman for BP said: "Sepa's assessment of Grangemouth for 2016 was a result of some minor non-compliances that did not lead to any significant environmental impact and which were addressed prior to our divestment in 2017 of the Forties Pipeline System." | A spokesman for BP said: "Sepa's assessment of Grangemouth for 2016 was a result of some minor non-compliances that did not lead to any significant environmental impact and which were addressed prior to our divestment in 2017 of the Forties Pipeline System." |
Dounreay Site Restoration Limited said it has spent more than £1m in the last year upgrading facilities at the former nuclear power project, to ensure continued compliance with environmental regulations. | Dounreay Site Restoration Limited said it has spent more than £1m in the last year upgrading facilities at the former nuclear power project, to ensure continued compliance with environmental regulations. |
A spokesman added: "Decommissioning of the site is recognised as one of the most complex in Europe as we maintain and ultimately dismantle a large number of facilities that date back several decades. | A spokesman added: "Decommissioning of the site is recognised as one of the most complex in Europe as we maintain and ultimately dismantle a large number of facilities that date back several decades. |
"We welcome recent comments from Sepa recognising the considerable effort and priority given to undertake improvements since 2016 which we expect to see reflected in the 2017 assessment." | "We welcome recent comments from Sepa recognising the considerable effort and priority given to undertake improvements since 2016 which we expect to see reflected in the 2017 assessment." |
The Petroineos Refinery has not responded to requests for comment. |