Jersey In Peril December 2010

It is now just over a decade since 32 square kilometres of our SE Coast were listed as the first Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in the Channel Islands on 10 November 2000.

In the past year Save Our Shoreline have seen expert consultants Bioscan (UK) Limited confirm in their report to Environment Scrutiny reference the planning and early stage construction of the Island's new incinerator that: "There is evidence of chronic marine pollution, and especially elevated levels of arsenic. This is recognised by Planning & Environment and whilst they are working towards a resolution of this matter it is essential that the impacts of this on the Ramsar Site are clearly understood." (link to Scrutiny report)

Beyond this, the same document supported our informed view that: "Potential environmental risks associated with both the ingress of tidal water and the potential for the site to hold contaminated material were predicted for the construction phase of the project. However, it took more than three months from the date that water ingress was first encountered within the excavation to the production of a detailed method statement to deal with this issue. This is considered unacceptable practice which has unnecessarily exposed the marine environment to a potential pollution risk."

Leaving us with yet more unanswered questions of an extremely grave nature. As long-term readers will know, we presently await the verdict of the Attorney General on a dossier forwarded by the Regulator relating to a series of well-evidenced pollution incidents that took place during Spring 2009. Environment Scrutiny and Save Our Shoreline's files are not closed on this matter. See our previous post here

AGAINST A BACKDROP OF LONG TERM DECLINE

In the results of a survey conducted in 2009 by Plymouth Marine Laboratory jointly for the Waterfront Enterprise Board and the Environment Department related to plans for further land reclamation into the SE Coast Ramsar Site, we read:

“The combined impacts of port activity with occasional fuel oil spills, sewerage, etc., the power station outfall (20,000 cubic metres/hour) discharging directly onto this area and urban storm water flows inevitably result in reduced water quality with knock on effects for the marine communities. This is exacerbated to some extent by the impacts of human recreational activity on the beaches, which during the summer months appears to be quite intensive. The net result is that this area has been subjected to cumulative environmental impacts over a sustained period, which have been further confounded by the presence of the La Collette reclamation which reduces tidal flows and tidal flushing. Inevitably the ecological conditions and communities observed in this area were significantly less pristine than elsewhere on the Ramsar site, and appear to have declined since the survey in 1998.” (download as PDF)

It will therefore come as no surprise that Save Our Shoreline are currently in the process of challenging a number of questionable discharge permits, where these have been applied for.

In recent weeks we understand from Transport and Technical Services Minister Constable Mike Jackson that: “Water has been pumped from eight ash pits at the La Collette site this year. The water was collected and taken to Bellozanne for treatment as this was the "most environmentally friendly option." Mr Jackson confirmed that the pools had formed from rainwater, rather than the ingress of seawater.” (Jersey Evening Post 3 November 2010).

Details have been requested of the Minister as to what the “most environmentally friendly option” entails precisely, no reply has been received after some three weeks. The ash pits at La Collette are not sealed. Save Our Shoreline successfully opposed an earlier application to pump leachate into Havre des Pas. We do not consider tankering toxic liquid to Bellozanne Sewage Treatment Works for discharge into St Aubin's Bay under existing licence to be acceptable practice. See lab report

A REMINDER ABOUT THE INCINERATOR CONSTRUCTION POLLUTION EVENTS

Before the contractors at the Energy from Waste plant attempted (unsuccessfully) to treat the pit water on site (more on that soon) and before a token amount was tankered away to Bellozanne, the contaminated water from the incinerator excavation was pumped directly into the culvert and then out to sea. The public were assured by the Minister of Transport and Technical Services: " I have to say that the water within the site is purer than the water outside." (Constable Mike Jackson speaking on BBC Jersey Today, 5th February, 2010.) We ask that you study the pictures below and draw your own conclusions.

SO: WHO DO YOU TRUST?

Save our Shoreline spend many hundreds of hours carefully examining official reports and related documents. We are grateful to have had the support of highly regarded consultants. Everything we report is to the best of our knowledge, accurately researched. Yet even with all the evidence we have, still the Jersey Authorities insult the intelligence of the Ramsar Directorate, who have now requested Save Our Shoreline to bring the matter to the next meeting of the Ramsar Management Authority. Not only have we had to fight to protect the marine environment against pollution but also to do battle with the very departments whose responsibility it is to that job. Something is very wrong.

We would like to thank you for reading this month's slightly longer edition and hope that you will check back next month when we will be analysing correspondence between the CEO of Planning and Environment and DEFRA. We will also keep you updated on the Energy from Waste pollution case currently before the Attorney General. Our Facebook pages are updated frequently. You are welcome to comment.

May we wish you all a Happy and Peaceful Christmas!