Action demanded on Cardiff Toxic Tip

Friends of the Earth Cymru is calling on Environment Agency Wales to find those responsible for the dumping of thousands of tonnes of toxic waste in a quarry in south Wales, and to make them pay the estimated £100 million to clean up the site.

A report in today's Guardian [1] reveals the extent of the dumping at Brofiscin quarry, near Groesfaen village to the north of Cardiff. Sixty seven different chemicals including Agent Orange, dioxins and PCBs were dumped between 1965 and 1972, and are still polluting the area more than 30 years later. Much, if not all, of the chemicals were dumped by contractors hired by the giant chemical company Monsanto.

Friends of the Earth Cymru is contacting Environment Agency Wales to request information about the pollution and the steps the Agency has taken to bring those responsible to account. The group has called on the Agency to be completely open with members of the local community about the levels of pollution and the possible risks to health.

Julian Rosser, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru commented:

"It's unacceptable that a chemical giant like Monsanto can dump tonnes of toxic chemicals next to a south Wales community and not be forced to clear up its mess.

"The Environment Agency must take immediate action to reassure the public that this site will be cleaned up, and that those responsible for the pollution will be made to pay. We are asking them to explain what they are doing, and why it has taken so long for the true extent of the pollution at the site to become public.

"Assembly Environment Minister Carwyn Jones must make sure that the Agency has the resources in place to effectively investigate and prosecute the polluters."

Notes

[1] http://environment.guardian.co.uk/waste/story/ ¬
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