12 January 2007

TYRONE FARMER FINED £1,000 FOR SILAGE POLLUTION

Tyrone farmer fined £1,000

JAMES Oliver, of Tattysallagh Road, Omagh was fined £1,000 at Omagh Magistrate's Court, following a silage pollution incident.

The prosecution followed the discovery of a badly polluted stream by an officer from the Environment and Heritage Service on December 20, 2005. The bottom of the waterway was coated in a thick layer of slime and was visibly polluted for approximately one kilometre. The source of this pollution was traced upstream to a farm at Tattysallagh Road, Omagh, managed by Mr Oliver, where it was found that silage effluent from an open silage clamp was running into a yard drain and making its way to the nearby stream.

Mr Oliver pleaded guilty in court and was fined £1,000, plus analysis and court costs of £132.74.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Farmers are reminded of the importance of preventing slurry, silage effluent and other wastes produced on their farms from escaping or causing pollution. The risk of this is particularly high during the winter, when the housing of stock indoors puts pressure on effluent storage tanks and heavier rainfall increases the risk of farm effluent being washed to nearby streams and rivers.

The maximum fine for water pollution offences is £20,000.

Clarence Court, Adelaide Street, Belfast BT2 8GB

Tel: (028) 9054 0003 Fax: (028) 9054 1199 E-Mail: press.office@doeni.gov.uk

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