A Further Update on the Situation at Angus Fire
By Paul Williams (Managing Director)
Angus has now placed purchase orders with the suppliers of the storm water treatment technologies that will be adopted to treat any potentially PFAS contaminated storm water. This new “treatment train” is the largest purchase of plant and equipment that Angus has made in its entire history, and it should arrive at the Bentham site in January and be fully operational by the middle of February.
As part of the environmental assessment work being undertaken by Geosyntec to enable them to evaluate and specify the storm water treatment requirements and associated environmental permit submission, water samples were collected from the River Wenning, both “upstream” and “downstream” to the Angus Fire facility.
(Explanatory note: PFAS is an umbrella term for a very large class of chemicals, and PFOS is one of those chemicals). The water samples were taken to determine the baseline levels of PFAS in the river as it meanders down through Bentham. The “upstream” water sample results – those taken from the river ~200metres before the river reaches Station Road, Bentham show that PFOS concentration in the river already exceeds the annual average Environmental Quality Standard (AA-EQS, 0.65 ng/L). For context, these standards specify the concentration levels for substances in water bodies with the aim of reducing harmful effects on human health, aquatic life and the wider environment.
We have acknowledged the potential environmental impacts from historic operations at our facility and are working urgently to better characterise the Bentham site and surrounding areas. However, this new sampling initially appears to indicate that there are other sources of PFOS entering the River Wenning further upstream, even before it gets to Bentham. The sample taken “downstream”, after the United Utilities Wastewater Treatment Works, also shows PFOS in the river, but at slightly higher levels than the “upstream” sample. However, these results still need to be assessed to determine potential source(s) impacting the downstream sample. Ramboll, as agreed with the Environment Agency, will undertake monthly PFAS sampling of stormwater releases from the Angus site over the next 12 months.
During November, further meetings were held with those residents whose properties appeared to be most relevant given the previous round of soil testing to discuss and determine responsible ways in which we can resolve the situation. We have not received notice of any legal action, whether from those residents or from any other person.
A meeting was held with Julian Smith MP in November where we were able to explain the full extent of our site characterisation and containment activities and provide him with an understanding of the work we are doing alongside the UK regulators.
Angus, meanwhile, continues to work closely with independent industry-leading environmental consultants and in cooperation with our UK regulator, the Environment Agency. These further investigations will help us better understand the extent of any PFAS contamination and assist in determining the remediation required.
We will continue to provide regular updates to the Town Council, as we work our way through these very challenging issues over the next few years.