Archived press release

USA sets precedent for dumping its waste overseas

18 November 2003

800 TONNES TOXIC WASTES CONTINUES TO HARTLEPOOL

The ship in the US"Ghost Fleet" destined for the UK containing the highest quantity of toxic waste has been given permission by the Government to go to be moored in Hartlepool until its future is decided.

The structure of the "Canopus" is made up of more than 500 tonnes of toxic materials. It will arrive in Hartlepool along with "Compass Island". Between them the structures of the two ships contain more than 800 tonnes of American toxic waste - with more than 500 tonnes of asbestos and 300 tonnes of solid PCBs set to be buried locally in Hartlepool - on UK soil.

PCBs are recognised by the Stockholm Convention as one of the 12 most toxic global pollutants. Asbestos is a recognised significant risk to workers. Laws were bent on both sides of the Atlantic to allow the ships to set sail from the US. Normally it is illegal to import asbestos into the UK. It is also illegal to for America to export PCBs - whether liquid or solid. In this case US Marine Administration Authority (MARAD) had to get a guarantee from the US environment protection agency that it wouldn't prosecute if the ghost fleet was sent to Hartlepool.

Responding to the announcement that the ships now have permission to spend the winter at Teesside, Friends of the Earth Director Tony Juniper said:

"I am not surprised that these two ships are continuing to Hartlepool. The Government has made a mess of the entire situation and to allow these ships, made up of more than 800 tonnes of toxic waste, temporary harbour elsewhere would have provoked even further controversy. Hartlepool residents will be furious that these American boats will now end up moored in the River Tees."

"Friends of the Earth is in favour of ships being recycled responsibly - but this is not the issue here. The American administration must take responsibility for its own waste. The Bush Administration has overturned US law in order to send American waste overseas - allowing these boats to be scrapped outside of the States sets a dangerous precedent which makes it more likely that future ghost fleet ships will be dumped on developing country beaches."

"The UK must take responsibility for its own toxic ships and must develop state of the art facilities to do so in full consultation with local communities and proper assessments into risks to the environment."

Two weeks ago Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett and Environment Agency chief Barbara Young said the second pair of the four ghost fleet ships must turn around and return to the United States. At that stage the ships were much closer to the States than they were to the UK. Able UK and the US administration have now publicly humiliated the Government by ignoring these calls and bringing the ships to Britain.

Responding to comments by Peter Mandelson, MP, Friends of the Earth Director, Tony Juniper added:

"The American politicians who have lived with these ships in their backyard for decades have made it clear that these ships pose a significant environmental threat. Peter Mandelson's comments suggest that he has not read the numerous documents by the US Marine Administration that detail the fragility of these ships and the hazardous materials on them. He should acquaint himself with the facts before making unfounded accusations. The master of spin should stop spinning and start reading."

Notes

• Canopus - Structure contains 286 tonnes Solid PCBs and 252 tonnes Asbestos
• Compass Island - Structure contains 34 tonnes Solid PCBs and 252 tonnes Asbestos
• Figures come from a Marine Safety Assessment carried out in September 2003 for Able UK by Det Norske Veritas
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