ESG Radio Newsletter 6^th October 2016

 Key words: Clean up the World – Eco Park – Wish List – DPC

Hello to all. We start by referring to our most recent major event, which is of course, the Clean up the World Campaign. We held an Awareness Event at Casemates the week before the clean up with information stalls about litter issues and impacts and saw much interest from the public as well as from St Mary’s First School and St. Anne’s Middle School. Pupils helped decorate large banners on site with messages about litter and also created some lovely artwork on the environment and how we should be protecting it. Thanks to the teachers who supported the event and to the ESG team who made it possible. We would also like to thank the Youth Service and Dept of Environment for helping with some equipment needed. Special thanks to Ania for her beautiful and eye-catching murals and to Gamma Concepts for the clever use of past Clean up pictures built into a Rock of Gibraltar Mosaic.

The Clean up saw great efforts from volunteers, combined with resources from various bodies and entities throughout Gibraltar, result in a major win for our natural environment that we should all be proud of. A full report on actions taken and feedback from teams will be published and made available to the Ministry for the Environment and Litter Committee. Of course we hope that recurrent hotspots can be eliminated and we shall be striving to achieve that also. But transformations also took place at very awkward spots such as rocky revetments and slopes, hard to access beaches and on underwater dives- all of which have benefitted from this community clean up and thanks go to all who made this possible. That’s close to 30 teams and support from a dozen other entities! A special thanks to the logistics team that put in many hours before the clean up to ensure it all happened as smoothly as possible. Final thanks to the Open Day Trust for their donation, which ensures we can continue updating and replacing essential equipment.

The ESG website will carry footage of all the action and teams on our Flickr site accessible on our home page at esg-gib.net as from next week.

We wanted to promote the Eco Park based at Flint Road, off Devil’s Tower Road, as this facility has been developing and expanding in the last year. Known better as a car scrap yard the site is undergoing a transformation with huge piles of different waste streams prepared for export. You can take all your recyclable waste there – open all week, checking times at 200-75108. Even take your polystyrene, which has only very recently been accepted at the Park for onward recycling!

The ESG now looks ahead to autumn with plans to revise its Wish List and core aims and bring this up to speed. We hope to have this in place by the end of October. Issues of energy, planning and traffic, among several others, will be reviewed and updated. Meanwhile we continue to hold meetings with Government and other bodies following up on a number of pressing environmental matters.

The DPC will meet end of October with potentially a number of large schemes on the agenda. We urge the public to visit egov.gi and then Town Planning to read through live applications that could be included in the next agenda. Of course simply appearing on the Application site does not mean inclusion in the next agenda. That will be confirmed and published a week before the DPC meeting itself. The ESG will also be monitoring particular projects.

Please contact the ESG if you would like any more information. You can track our press statements on our website- and email us at esg@gibtelecom.net . Thank you for listening.

ESG Press Release re CEPSA Oil Spill      29/09/16

ESG is very concerned about the recent oil spill produced by CEPSA’s mono-buoy and believes the final volume will only be realised after some time has passed given the underwater nature of the leak. The discrepancy on volume has also raised concern with 500, 2,000 and now 2,500litres being quoted by CEPSA, La Capitanía Marítima, and our own Gibraltar Port respectively.

Despite the urgent response by all parties to clean up the oil spill and monitor this incident, it raises a number of important issues. The cause has been reported as a fault in the mono-buoy during the disconnection of submerged pipelines.

The ESG calls for an independent review to be made of all critical infrastructure and systems at CEPSA to ensure such spills are avoided in future. It believes that control of equipment, systems and prevention measures need to be monitored from outside the industry and that penalties for any spill have to be of such magnitude as to cause a new and increased level of care and prevention within industry. With a new and large investment announced recently by CEPSA, the ESG says the Refinery must invest in upgrading infrastructure and safety systems and not simply expand operations and its profitability.

It is well documented that even a few litres of crude oil will wreak havoc on wildlife so 2 tons will have definitely impacted on the bays living environment. Birds and fish need only come into contact or even simply inhale this toxic material to suffer damage or worse₁.

Given the environmental impact of crude oil spills the ESG strongly urges for measures to also be taken at a cross border level to ensure these do not happen again.

1. http://oils.gpa.unep.org/facts/wildlife.htm

Tremendous Clean up Success!

26^th September 2016

Organisers of CUTW would like to thank the 300 plus volunteers, collaborators, supporters and sponsors for pulling off another Gibraltar-wide clean up this past weekend.

The “mountain of waste” was created at the Eco Park facility, with volunteers ferrying load after load to the site based at Flint Road. (see attached picture) Various skips were also filled with the final removal of all rubbish collected to be completed in the next few days.

Volunteers should be very proud of their efforts to help make Gibraltar’s natural environment cleaner, liberated from plastic menace and other harmful materials. Their hard work and hands-on action has also helped highlight Gibraltar’s litter problem.

Contractors’ waste compounded the build up of litter present at various hotspots. These matters will be taken up by the campaigners with all relevant authorities.

A long held objective of the campaign was also achieved this week with the removal of a large steel drum at Seven Sisters by GibDock cranes.

The ESG sincerely thanks the 300 plus volunteers made up of schools, businesses, clubs, associations and Govt agencies for rolling up their sleeves in this, the 12^th year, of the Clean up Campaign on the Rock. Well done!!

A full report detailing the weekend’s great efforts will be published soon.

CUTW 12^th Gibraltar participation!

19^th September 2016

The Environmental Safety Group will be co-ordinating a Gibraltar wide clean up next weekend as part of the global, UNESCO-supported, Clean up the World Campaign. The key date is the 24^th September.

Over 20 teams will be in action locally both during the week and over the weekend raising awareness about littered areas and cleaning up different corners of our homeland.

We start the week with an awareness raising stall and activity at Casemates on Tuesday 20^th from 10.30am to 3.00pm. Displays on the upcoming Clean up as well as information on the campaign’s aims and objectives will feature. It is always impressive to see how this campaign galvanises our community and enables challenging sites to be tackled by pulling together volunteers and resources.

The clean up will tackle green spaces and coastlines, underwater sites and various hotspots. A harbour clean up is also planned.

New to this years’ campaign, and a long held clean–up objective, is the planned removal of a massive steel drum lodged ashore at Seven Sisters. Our volunteers will clear this site of marine flotsam and GibDock will be tackling the challenging removal of the large steel object.

This site is now a designated marine reserve and managed by the Department of the Environment and Climate Change with ongoing programmes such as the replenishment of flora and fauna, litter surveys and the promotion of existing biodiversity with their underwater camera. The removal of all waste, including the large drum, will therefore greatly enhance the area. CUTW Gibraltar is very pleased to be able to contribute to these efforts.

Rosia Bay seabed and pier will also see a great effort this year as many local divers get involved to remove harmful waste from this marine rich environment.

Our “island” environment means loose litter threatens marine life – we need to do our bit to better contain our waste. Our campaign will highlight these problems, which form part of global efforts to eliminate plastics from our oceans.

With education, enforcement and facilities being central to the Clean up Campaign, this hands-on action will demonstrate that while improvements are slowly being achieved, there is still some way to go before we have won the battle on littering and fly tipping and improving our waste management systems.

The ESG would like to thank everyone who helps make the clean up possible – it couldn’t happen without your support.

If you want to volunteer and join a team you need to register asap – please don’t leave it till the last moment – thanks- email esg@gibtelecom.net

Liquid Natural Gas clarification sought once again

In the recent interview by the Chief Minister on the new Power Station and LNG Terminal, we were told that all necessary assessments had been completed.

The Environmental Safety Group agrees that there have been extensive assessments made on the safety and on the environmental impacts of these projects, sited as they are so close to urban areas and to the marine environment. The ESG has always stated its preference for the location of such industrial activity to be away from residential areas.

During the last major discussion at the Development and Planning Commission involving the LNG project, at which the Environmental Impact Assessment certification was examined, the ESG raised a number of issues that were still pending and were of concern. Most of these, we were told, were the remit of COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards), which is another level of certification that is required, and the Group was assured that details of this critical assessment and contingency review would be made available when the COMAH investigation had been concluded.

However, with these results still not available, the public now learns that the LNG project is poised to expand even further, with the prospect of bunkering. This is a great concern to the ESG, and no doubt to many residents particularly those of Waterport Terraces, Harbour Views, Sir William Jackson Grove, Mons Calpe Mews, Watergardens etc,. The assurances given by our Government to the ESG in private meetings, and to the public in Press Statements that this bunkering activity would never be supplied by the North Mole terminal now seem to have been made too hastily. When the ESG raised this concern last year, it was irrefutably allayed on many occasions by the Government of Gibraltar, who insisted that there were no plans whatsoever to carry out this activity at this terminal that is designed and dedicated solely to our power station requirements.

If it now appears that either Shell or GoG or both need to promote LNG bunkering activity from the North Mole terminal to justify their expenditure on this project, then the reality of the situation has been misinterpreted by the ESG, and the public, and this is the clarification that we are now asking from our government. Furthermore, we ask how this much higher level of LNG activity can be contemplated without the ‘green light’ that is required from the COMAH investigations.

The ESG Committee

ESG on Western Beach Sewage Contamination

25^th August 2016

As pollution levels continue to spike at Western Beach during July and August, the ESG urges beachgoers to avoid bathing in that beach. Indeed the red flag has been up for a while now and for good reason.

It is clear that closure of this popular beach will be highly regrettable but the data on Government’s own monitoring site is there for all to see and highlights levels of E Coli and Intestinal enterococci, that have been peaking in July and especially August this year that should result in closure of the beach for the sake of public health.

The “norms” or permissible levels for these microorganisms run at

< 500 parts per 100ml for E Coli, and

<185 parts per 100ml for Intestinal Enterococci

In July, data shows that these levels were breeched on numerous occasions, and even on continuous days, with exceptional readings of 18,300 obtained for E Coli on the 20^th July. That was not just slightly polluted; it was over 36 times the acceptable water quality.

We move on to August and note that after a brief clear period of two weeks Western Beach is once again showing exceptional high levels of sewage contamination. Examples are 72600 parts per 100ml for E Coli, which is 145 times the legally permitted level. This was recorded on the 17^th August but has since seen constant pollution with off the scale readings of Intestinal enterococci at 10,875 on the 18^th Aug, and further daily and exceptional spikes of 20,300 and 21,750 parts per 100ml on the 19^th Aug. These readings mean values of 58, 109 and 117 times the acceptable water quality. There is no new data posted since then and flag remains red.

This abject deterioration in the bathing water quality at Western Beach during this summer is an aberration in a situation, which is now commonly known to occur year round but is better controlled by La Linea during the bathing season. Of course it’s understood that the persisting mountains of seaweed afflicting this beach are also causing their own considerable problems. But this cannot mar the underlying problem of sewage contamination, which is worsening and should direct the authorities to take the necessary action. Indeed advantage could be taken over the better relations with cross border authorities to find and implement a solution once and for all.

To the ESG it is clear that unless the source of the current contamination can be identified and stopped, the high levels of sewage pollution confirmed at this beach should result in its closure for the protection of public health.

The ESG will continue to press the EU, our MEPs and Government to battle for our beach, which is an important community amenity, special marine environment and used by many families over the past decades.

ESG urges the public to visit the Environmental Agency Website; click on monitoring and check water data on all beaches – (http://environmental-agency.gi/environmental_monitoring.htm)

ESG Radio Broadcast 25^th August 2016

With Clean up the World 2016 a month away today preparations of equipment and other important materials are now underway. We are now consolidating teams and sites and urge anyone interested to please get in touch soon. Preferably by email to: esg@gibtelecom.net. We shall be holding an awareness event in town on the 20^th just before the Clean up where we hope to share information and raise the profile of Clean up issues. This will be our twelfth campaign in Gibraltar as part of a global movement that inspires grassroots action to help local environments everywhere. With the core theme being: Our Place, Our Planet, Our Responsibility, we believe this campaign is as relevant today as when we first started, and call upon the community to lend its support as it has done in past years. The clean up itself will be held on the 24^th September and volunteers and team leaders will be expected to attend the main planning meeting in early September.

The issue of LNG has been in the news again. Those who follow our work will know we have been closely monitoring this project and have given our views publicly at each and every stage. We have held recent meetings with GibElec regarding on-going works at the new Power Station site, interested in ensuring that the measures we called for last year, for Best Available Technology to be applied, will be seen through. These relate to electrostatic precipitators, stack monitoring, and adequate assessment of diesel use to encompass a wider time period than envisaged in the present studies. Basically to limit pollution affecting residential areas closest to the plant. Separately we are also keen to see the COMAH assessment and contingency plans on the LNG storage and its operational use; this remains pending.

The Chief Ministers interview this week regarding LNG bunkering and any possible use of the North Mole terminal in this regard has not featured in any discussion/assessment or exhibition held to date that we have been a part of. Indeed we have had assurances that the east side would be the area to be used for LNG bunkering, and even then, after careful assessments. We are taking this up once again with Government.

In the past few weeks Western Beach has been in the news and much-debated on social media. The key focus has been on the extraordinary and mountainous volumes of seaweed amassing on the shores of this beach. It has failed to make the news, however, on the levels of sewage contamination, which has rightfully caused red flags to fly on a number of occasions, and continues to this day.

While past summers have seen a reprieve during the bathing season from dumping of very high volumes of sewage at Western Beach waters from La Lineas’ infamous storm drain, which occurs all year round, and since 2010, this time we are in the middle of a bathing season, and we are clocking up exceptionally high levels of E Coli and intestinal enterococci microorganisms, both from faecal matter, which pose a grave threat to public health.

We would like to draw attention to this current polluting activity which can be seen on the Environmental Agency’s website and should, in our view, result in beach closure if this is not eliminated.

Finally, the DPC meets next week on the 31^st August at 9.30am at the John Mackintosh Hall. The agenda is up on the egov.gi site and contains a number of interesting applications that will be discussed. Remember these meetings are held publicly at the Charles Hunt Room.

Thanks for listening!

ESG Radio Newsletter 11^th August 2016

Rubbish – Clean up – Eco Park – Balloon Release – Air and Noise Pollution – Bathing Water Quality

Summer tends to be a busy time with many of us out and about cooling off, enjoying the great outdoors. There’s no denying Gibraltar also fills up considerably with many thousands of tourists keen to lap up our attractions. We wish that we could all, collectively, be more mindful and more responsible about our rubbish. Whether in the sea, beaches, parks, playgrounds, or on main roads, plastic bags and other food waste is seen almost everywhere, usually lurking around one corner or other.

Lets Use the bins provided and remind friends, family and even people you see chucking stuff not to litter! It’s not cool, its an eyesore, and in our particular environment positively dangerous to birds and marine life. In the knowledge that many plastics break down in the marine environment and enter the food chain this also threatens human health, it’s a no-brainer really – its in everyone’s interest to deal with rubbish responsibly.

The 2016 Clean Up, is a visual part of a year round campaign we work on with agencies and the community to improve on Gibraltar’s littering issues. We believe it is of value as it helps raise awareness, helps clean up important habitats, and reinforces to the rest of the world that Gibraltar supports the inspiring global movement to help clean up the environment. The date then is the 24^th of September. Team leaders will be emailed this week.

We shall have a number of activities including a main street awareness event in the run up to the day itself. More news in the press soon.

Our local campaign has achieved many positives for our local environment but there is still more to be done.

A reminder that the Eco Park based at Flint Road (off Devil’s Tower Road) accepts any recyclable waste and is open 7 days a week.

We welcome the recent announcement by the SDGG that a replacement for the mass balloon release has been identified. We are assured it will have no negative environmental impact which we obviously welcome.

With higher temperatures any air and noise pollution creates an ever-greater impact on those nearby. As we receive complaints from affected residents we continue to highlight and press for best available technology to be used as our proximity to any industrial activity means EU stds alone are not adequate.

The ESG would like to remind the public that bathing water quality can be checked on the Environmental Agency’s website under monitoring to verify the status of the water quality in general at any particular beach –we say in general because the data is always a few days behind and can only give an indication.

You can email us at esg@gibtelecom.net for more information and visit our website esg-gib.net for all our press releases.     Thanks for listening.

Poster for the Clean up will be posted on the website next week- apologies – meanwhile please email us at esg@gibtelecom.net for one to be emailed to you.

Date for the Clean Up this year is the 24th September. The official date is the 17th/18th which is too hot and doesn’t work well for schools just coming out of half days either.

We intend to clear up a few hotspots, tackle some challenging sites and raise awareness of litter and waste issues on the Rock.

Details will be posted here on how you can help and support this worthy community campaign working to clean up our local environment.

ESG Radio Newsletter 28^th July 2016

Ship Collisions – Nuclear Subs –  Eco Wave Energy – Global Warming – Litter and Clean up 

This past week maritime issues have been in the fore with confusing reports of collisions involving chemical carriers, nuclear submarines, oil tankers and other commercial vessel. Of course it is a concern and we have issued a press release that has been published in the local press and is also available to read online on our website if you haven’t caught up with it so far.

It is bad news when a nuclear submarine is involved in any type of collision and we have called for independent, verifiable information concerning public safety to be made available as soon as possible. We echo concerns in the community that repairs should be carried out in the UK and in purpose built facilities. There has also been an absence of any formal statement by the Port Authority when clearly maritime safety is their primary responsibility. We await clarification on how an oil tanker operated by local businesses and in our waters suffered damage hours after the submarine collision, with oil containment due to the double hull feature now compulsory in all oil carrying vessels – this could have been very different otherwise.

We say confusion arose because apart from understandable questions being asked locally, articles began appearing in the UK press linking the submarine and Vemaoil Tanker as being involved in the same collision. This was subsequently changed and information provided in the local media clarifying what appears to have happened in the two separate accidents. We still await a formal statement and explanation to be given by the Port Authority on what happened with the Vemaoil Collision? Was the VTS, vessel tracking system up and running?

This week the ESG, together with the GONHS visited the Eco Wave Plant pilot project. It was very interesting to see the units up close and understand the challenges and aims behind this new technology for Gibraltar. We wish it every success and thank the Dept. of Environment and GibElec for making the visit possible.

As the warm weather persists you can’t help but think about global warming and the need for continued short and long term action to be taken by all. In these days of political uncertainty and as has been previously mentioned in one of our newsletters, we commend the present Govt and Minister for the Environment for pledging to continue to support all EU Env legislation working towards environmental protection and climate change goals. With the UK and USA undergoing major political changes themselves it is sincerely hoped that sense will prevail and that existing climate change policies, so hard fought for, will survive and even be strengthened going forward.

Enjoy your summer- respect the environment and please use the litter bins – reminder Clean up is held on the 24^th September and you are welcome to sign up just drop us an email at esg@gibtelecom.net. Go to esg-gib.net, that’s our website, for more information.