Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The Environment Agency (EA) in England is under scrutiny after internal documents and data obtained by BBC News revealed the agency’s struggles to efficiently monitor incidents of serious pollution. Reports show that the EA only dispatched investigators to a small fraction of reported incidents last year, often relying on water companies, who could potentially be responsible for the pollution, for updates on the situation. Despite an internal document stating that all potentially serious incidents should be attended by staff, in 2024, the EA failed to respond to almost a third of nearly 100 water industry incidents that were determined to pose a significant threat to nature or human health.
Moreover, the agency downgraded the environmental impact of over 1,000 incidents that were initially deemed potentially serious without sending any personnel to assess the situation. While the EA claims to “respond” to all incidents, it utilizes methods to evaluate pollution that do not require physical attendance. The agency emphasizes that when reports are received, they take care not to downplay the seriousness of the incident. However, an insider who provided the data to the BBC criticized the agency for essentially relying solely on water company evidence, which is rarely incriminating.
Campaigners like Ashley Smith from the Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (WASP) group in Oxfordshire express frustration over the EA’s lack of responsiveness. Smith highlights the difficulties in getting the EA to address pollution concerns, citing instances where the agency deferred to water companies without taking direct action. Matt Staniek, a water quality campaigner in the Lake District, also raises concerns about the EA accepting explanations from water companies at face value, leading to inadequate investigations into pollution incidents. Staniek emphasizes the need for the EA to be more proactive in addressing pollution without requiring external pressure from the media.
Critics argue that the current regulatory framework for the water industry is ineffective, prompting the government to consider merging various regulators, including the EA, into a single entity. The chief executive of River Action, James Wallace, criticizes the perceived ineffectiveness of the EA, suggesting that polluters are operating with impunity due to the agency’s limited capacity to investigate pollution incidents. Despite the criticism, an EA spokesperson maintains that the agency responds to every water pollution report received, ensuring that they do not underestimate the seriousness of any incident and adjusting categorizations as necessary based on new information
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.