Boss fined after oil polluted river

Feb 7 2007 By James Cartledge, Birmingham Mail

A COMPANY boss whose firm allowed waste to pollute the River Tame in Birmingham has been heavily fined.

Birmingham Magistrates Court heard the pollution happened when a worker with no technical qualifications was left in charge of Nechells-based waste management site UK Oils (Birmingham) Ltd.

Company director Keith Rollins also accepted the waste was not properly tested before being released in September 2005.

He was fined £7,000 plus £400 costs after admitting breaking environmental laws. The firm was also fined £11,000 plus £576 costs for the same offences.

Dermot Scully, for the Environment Agency, told the court the problem was picked up when sewage staff reported a strong smell at a nearby works.

Tests revealed the presence of a compound called 4 chloro 2 methylphenol in samples taken from both UK Oils and the sewage plant.

The court heard the company was licensed to receive tank-cleaning waste and contaminated water. But it was not authorised to dispose of the type of compound at the centre of the alert.

Speaking after the hearing, Environment Agency investigator Mike White said the body was responsible for protecting human health from hazards posed by waste management sites.

"We do this by means of conditions in a waste management licence which informs the operator of the standards he must reach," he said. "Failure to comply with those conditions can result in uncontrolled emissions and pollution of a watercourse."

Andrew Wakeman, defending, told the court that "regrettably" the conditions of UK Oils' licence relating to the analysis of samples had not been followed on this occasion.