Windalco summoned after Rio Cobre fish kill

EWARTON, St Catherine:

THE NATIONAL Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) on Monday took legal action against the West Indies Alumina Company (Windalco) following the unauthorised release of improperly treated trade effluent on July 29, which resulted in a fish kill in the Rio Cobre River, St Catherine.

NEPA said court summonses were issued to Windalco under Section 12 of the Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act for the unlicensed release of untreated trade effluent, and under Section 11 of the Wild Life Protection Act for the release of a noxious substance into the environment. The matter is scheduled for mention in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court on August 16.

NEPA said water and fish samples were taken from the river on Saturday, July 30, by its enforcement officers, noting that analytical results of the water samples are available, but as the matter is scheduled to go before the court, the results will not be released at this time. Analysis of the fish tissue samples is still in process by the Veterinary Services Division.

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