Aberdeen bypass contractor fined for river pollution
Contractors building the AWPR have been fined for polluting the Rivers Dee and Don.
The ÂŁ280,000 penalty is one of the biggest ever handed out by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency.
It will be shared between community initiatives - and more than half will go to the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board.
The construction project is due to open to traffic early next year
Scottish Environment Protection Agency Chief Executive, Terry A’Hearn, said: “Everyday SEPA works to protect and enhance Scotland’s environment and we will respond robustly to organisations who fail to comply with environmental controls. Every operator must comply.
“It’s right that the Construction Joint Venture should offer this significant enforcement undertaking in recognition of the environmental impact of their actions, which resulted in a series of silt pollution incidents impacting numerous tributaries to Aberdeenshire rivers, the Dee and the Don.
"We are delighted that CJV has become one of the first operators to use the new enforcement undertaking. The CJV has stepped forward, accepted responsibility and set out to put things right.
“An enforcement undertaking not only compels those who breach the law to make amends, it instils a more positive working relationship based on understanding the duty we all share in safeguarding our natural environment”.
The biggest beneficiary of the undertaking is the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board, who will receive ÂŁ150,000 for improvement projects relating to diffuse pollution and to fund an Agricultural Officer for 2 years to assist farm owners in reducing diffuse pollution in the River Don.
Richard Gledson, Chairman, Dee District Salmon Fisheries Board, added: “We welcome both the immediate response by SEPA, including the temporary restriction of construction activity, their investigation, and today’s enforcement undertaking.
"This will provide for environmental improvements that will go some way to offsetting the impact on local communities and the environment.”