KERNOW/CORNWALL: CHEMICAL WARFARE KIT POLLUTION - 'GUILTY' SAY MOD

Rapport publié le 21/02/09 6:56 dans Environnement par Cathal Ó Luain pour Cathal Ó Luain

Fowey Kernow/Cornwall where some of the chemical kits were found washed up on beaches.

The Ministry of Defence have admitted to the Celtic League that they were the source of chemical warfare debris pollution on the Cornish coast (see below):

«Policy Secretariat NAVY COMMAND HQ Leach Building MP1-4 Whale Island Portsmouth P02 8BY

13th February 2009

Dear Mr Moffatt

Thank you for your letter dated 15 January 2009 to the Secretary of State for Defence regarding your concerns about containers which were washed up on beaches in Cornwall which you believe to be kits used by the military. Your letter has been passed to this office by the Ministerial Correspondence Unit and I have been asked to reply.

I can confirm that the containers referred to in your letter are MoD property and are currently used in service by the Armed Forces to detect poisonous gases. The MoD is conducting an investigation into the circumstances in which these items were lost and will take appropriate action once the investigation is complete.

The containers hold a number of chemicals which if undamaged are of no safety risk to the public. The containers are also clearly marked as hazardous material. The recovered containers show no evidence of leakage and therefore present no risk to the public or the environment.

The Coastguard has alerted the public to the incident and asked members of the public to report findings of any additional containers. They have issued a warning that if a container is found by a member of the public they should leave the items alone and immediately contact the Coastguard or local Fire Service.

I hope this is helpful.

Yours sincerely,

(Ms) Sue Blunt»