Tata Steel has been forced to pay £73,000 to an environmental organisation over a pollution incident near its Scunthorpe site.

In May 2015, after a call from the TSUK environment manager, its officers found a heavy red coloured lubricating oil on Seraphim lagoon, the Bottesford Beck and in wetland channels of Ashby Ville Local Nature Reserve.

Following investigations it appeared that the oil overflowed from an industrial bulk container as oil was being drained from a lubricating tank on the TSUK site, the agency said.

Under the terms of the enforcement undertaking, TSUK accepted the obligation to make the donation. The company also agreed to take action to ensure that a similar incident does not recur and paid the costs of the Environment Agency.

The undertaking requires TSUK: make a donation of £73,000 to the Humber Nature Partnership; implement pollution prevention and restoration works; review refresher training for staff; site improvement works; and pay Environment Agency costs.

The Agency found that the oil was overflow from an industrial bulk container as oil was being drained from a lubricating tank at the nearby Tata Steel UK site.

TSUK accepted an obligation to make a donation of £73,000 to the Humber Nature Partnership.

It has also agreed to take action to ensure that a similar incident does not recur and paid the costs of the Environment Agency.

Elizabeth Cooper, environment officer with the Environment Agency, said:

We work hard to protect people and the environment. In this case, we considered that the Enforcement Undertaking was an appropriate way to sanction the company while creating a benefit for the local environment.

Serious pollution can have devastating effects on rivers, fields and wildlife.

Along with prosecutions, the Environment Agency use enforcement notices, stop notices and civil sanctions to either improve performance or stop sites from operating. It is making better use of the wide range of measures that are available to bring sites back into compliance as quickly as possible.

The Environment Agency’s use of civil sanctions is in line with recent legislation extending their availability for more offences.

Civil sanctions such as these can be a proportionate and cost-effective way for businesses to make amends for less serious environmental offences.

The Enforcement Undertaking requires Tata Steel UK Ltd to:

• Make a donation of £73,000 to the Humber Nature Partnership
• Implement pollution prevention and restoration works
• Review refresher training for staff
• Site improvement works
• Pay Environment Agency costs

Failure to comply with an EU may result in the offender being prosecuted for the original offence. Details of Enforcement Undertakings accepted by the Environment Agency between can be found on GOV.UK

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