Sediment? silt? how serious is this? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Very. Well firstly to permit silt-contaminated surface water, to enter controlled waters (which includes all watercourses, lakes, lochs, coastal waters and water contained inunderground strata) is a prosecutable offence under section 30(F) (1) of the Control of Pollution Act 1974, as amended by Schedule 16 of the Environment Act 1995. The sediment settles within the watercourse and coats the watercourse bed with fine sediment. The sediment is produced by scouring of sediment from haul roads, launch pads and bases of rainwater, untreated discharge of pumped water from excavations and from the mud/slurry produced by the fleet of earthmoving plant. This has a disasterous effect on the full food chain, starting with invertibrate life and consequential effects on other insect life, fish, mammals and birds at the head of the food chain. In the two cases mentioned also have migratory salmonoids (salmon and sea trout) as well as native brown trout that use these headwaters of the river catchments for spawning in gravel banks which are destroyed by silting and can destroy the work generations of river management. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ YES to WIND Yes2Wind forums > Main Category > General > Windfarm pollution - is this the norm? Last Thread Next Thread Author Thread An Gaoth Aduaid Member Registered: Oct 2006 Location: Posts: 7 Windfarm pollution - is this the norm? After such a benign summer's weather I noted with some alarm while browsing the two most recent set of Regional Board Reports of SEPA, that both regions have had notable problems with pollution from windfarm projects being developed by two of the UK's leading renewable companies. Is this what local communities can expect to happen when windfarm to their local waters when windfarms are being developed? The Northern Board Report identifies amongst the usual band of culprits (waste water treatment works) that RDC were responsible for suspended solids polluting watercourses at their Millennium Wind Farm, Nr Invermoriston (Highland Region): quote: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SEPA received a complaint about sediment run off from roads construction at the wind farm access track. An investigation found that poor drainage-work practices by the site roads contractor had resulted in suspended silt polluting local watercourses. A warning letter was issued and follow-up inspection has indicated that the problem has much improved. see http://www.sepa.org.uk/pdf/board/no...ov06/item09.pdf ------------------------------------------------------------------------ It is interesting to note the comments made in the Non Technical Summary to their Environmental Impact Assessment regarding watercourse pollution quote: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The assessment has identified areas of activity, particularly during construction operations which have the potential to impact upon the hydrology of the site and overall surface water and groundwater quality. The effects of construction on regional and local groundwater flows are considered minor. Appropriate environmental management good practice and application of SEPA regulations will ensure this risk is minimised to levels which are entirely acceptable. No private water supplies will be affected by the development. It is also considered that the construction and operation of the wind farm will not have any significant adverse effects on water quality, on the River Moriston and its proposed nature conservation designation as a Special Area of Conservation. see page 7 of http://www.wind4energy.co.uk/cms/up..._millennium.pdf ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Meanwhile in the East Region Board papers in transpires that Airtricty are causing similar pollution problems at their Braes of Doune Windfarm development: quote: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SEPA officers attended a meeting with Airtricity and Alfred McAlpine at the Braes of Doune Windfarm on 29th September. Also in attendance were SNH, Stirling Council Planning Department and Land Use Consultants. The meeting had been called because of concerns that the Operational Method Statements were not being properly adhered to, and the ongoing discolouration of the nearby Ardoch and Garvald Burns. Extensive discussions were had in relation to water pollution mitigation measures as well as restoration proposals for the site. To date a number of OMEs and an FOI have been received regarding the site see http://www.sepa.org.uk/pdf/board/ea...nov06/item8.pdf ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Unfortunately I dont have to hand a Braes of Doune NTS but I anticipate that similar commitments where made regarding water pollution control It is all rather unfortunate and disapointing, particular when both development drain to such sensitive river catchment area. After the last two weeks rain (and no doubt snow melt at the weekend) I hope that developers have got their fingers out! -------------------------------------------------------