I
Ian Cloke
Guest
The Environment Agency is working to minimise the environmental impact of the oil tanker explosion at King?s North Industrial Estate on the Isle of Grain earlier today.
The main environmental risk was from the water used to put out the fire. That water became contaminated with the oil and has contaminated a 300 metre stretch of water course. The Environment Agency estimates that a further 150,000 litres of oil contaminated water have been contained on site.
The Fire and Rescue and Environment Agency have used oil booms to contain the oil and one of the Control Sluices on the Medway Estuary has been closed as a precaution.
The Environment Agency will work with a company employed by the site owners to clean up the site and avoid any further pollution.
Paul Bennett, who was managing the Environment Agency?s response on site said:
?This could have been devastating for the local environment. By working with our partners in the emergency services, we have managed to limit the environmental damage and the areas that were contaminated should make a swift recovery. Our biggest challenge was making sure that the contaminated water didn?t get into the estuary.?
The main environmental risk was from the water used to put out the fire. That water became contaminated with the oil and has contaminated a 300 metre stretch of water course. The Environment Agency estimates that a further 150,000 litres of oil contaminated water have been contained on site.
The Fire and Rescue and Environment Agency have used oil booms to contain the oil and one of the Control Sluices on the Medway Estuary has been closed as a precaution.
The Environment Agency will work with a company employed by the site owners to clean up the site and avoid any further pollution.
Paul Bennett, who was managing the Environment Agency?s response on site said:
?This could have been devastating for the local environment. By working with our partners in the emergency services, we have managed to limit the environmental damage and the areas that were contaminated should make a swift recovery. Our biggest challenge was making sure that the contaminated water didn?t get into the estuary.?