ESG on the departure of the Captain of the Port                                                                                                        11^th March 2014

The ESG is sorry to learn of the sudden departure of the present Captain of the Port. There are major changes going on both within and adjacent to the Port area which require careful management and supervision. The new Port building set to be built near the Retrenchment block is another ambitious project which should have been overseen by the team under whom the concept was launched.

We therefore regret the Captains decision to leave Gibraltar during this critical time but thank him for his co-operation and help when we have had reason to require assistance from his office.

The ESG believes the Port area is in need of a holistic plan to manage the rapidly growing number of large projects and industry setting up within its footprint and has publicly called for such a plan on several occasions.

The group further believes, given the scale of the challenges facing the Gibraltar Port Authority, that the departure of Captain Roy Stanbrook is premature.  His valued experience and contribution towards the Rocks’ maritime affairs will be sorely missed.

Rosia Bay Development

 Key Words:- Roads, Parking, Storm Drains and Sewage, Clean up the World

The ESG broadly welcomes the project presented by private developers for Rosia Bay.  It has some concerns, which were raised by its representative, J Howitt, during this weeks’ DPC consideration, but these were not reported in the wider press. The group believes these issues are a matter of public interest.

The ESG raised the question of the already overcrowded parking in the vicinity immediately surrounding the entrance to Rosia Bay and that this needs to be given serious consideration. Also clarification was sought by the ESG on the actual entry point; it was learnt that no further parking provision is planned for now and that public access will be exclusively on foot via a new bridge almost at road level. The steep ramp used by the majority of current users will in future only be used by staff that will have parking provided at Rosia Bay – there will be no parking for the public on site.

Another point raised by the ESG was the irregular but real danger of storm drain overflow causing sewage entering the bay from time to time, approximately where the new restaurant will be built. The ESG urges for this to be addressed early when taking the project forward. The group expects the planned EIA to address all issues, including health and safety, and all other important environmental and heritage factors.

There are many issues to consider when appraising the project and how it can benefit an area like Rosia Bay. We are all aware of the depressing state of neglect, vandalism, dumping, littering – on land and into the sea – that has pervaded this area for the past decade. The ESG has coordinated clean up teams of volunteers removing tons of rubbish from both land and seabed sites at Rosia Bay for the past 9 years. The group will be happy to share all information it has available with developers in the interests of protecting and safeguarding the biodiversity in the bay.

Overall, the group welcomes the proposed, understated development at Rosia that will lift the site from the abandoned and littered area it has become. Logistical problems of access, parking and the long term commercial viability of the project will also ultimately determine its real success, but for today, it is hoped the initial issues we and others have flagged are overcome and the project moves forward smoothly.

The ESG does not always report on DPC proceedings but its intention is to highlight issues that are of concern to the group and its members and particularly when it considers these are in the public interest.”

 (See following link for photographs of past clean ups at this site by our Clean up Volunteer teams.:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48032210@N04/10185089255/in/set-72157636384698606

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48032210@N04/10184997426/in/set-72157636384411593/  )

ESG Press Release

% CEPSA OIL REFINERY AND PERCENTAGES %

 Key Words:   Environmental Compliance, Nocturnal Pollution and European Commission

In a recent article in the Spanish Press, CEPSA Oil Refinery announced it was meeting 85% of their targets with regards to environmental compliance.

We are all too familiar with the regular and heavy, nocturnal pollution released into the local environment from this company under the cover of darkness. In windless conditions these toxic emissions can remain in our air systems for extended periods of time as occurred only last week.  We also know that due to the financial crisis in Spain, independent monitoring of industry emissions by the State has fallen far below what can be described as acceptable, never mind best practice.

The emissions in the attached picture exposes a company that continuously tries to present itself as a model industry following highest standards when the reality is very, very different indeed.

EC response to ESG via MEPs-

Recent news from the European Commission is that it confirms that Spain reported an exceedance of the target value set for nickel in 2012. The EC advises that a new Directive – 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions, coming into force on 7 Jan 2014, will replace the IPPC Directive for existing installations. The new Directive will require permitting authorities to use BAT (Best Available Techniques) conclusions as the reference for setting the permit conditions. Such conclusions for the refining of mineral oil and gas are planned for adoption in 2014. Within four years after their publication, the national authorities have to ensure that all permits for refineries are updated accordingly and that the installations comply with those permit conditions.

ESG’s view-

ESG regards the procedures at the EC as far from satisfactory. It acts as a smokescreen for industry allowing excessive pollution to go on unaddressed for years at a time, instead licensing the degradation of the living environment for its citizens and wildlife, and at worst, exacerbating ill health among its people. The ESG believes that regardless of any real gains achieved via this lobbying process, that the alternative, of doing nothing, is not acceptable. The EC is a public service body and should be helping communities, everywhere, achieve a basic, clean and healthy environment in which to live and raise families. It should be held to account.

The ESG will continue lobbying GOG and Opposition, MEPs and EU commissioners, demanding for better policing and enforcement at a national level.

Radio Broadcast:-

Key Words:- Development and Planning – CEPSA Oil Refinery – Western Beach

In today’s newsletter we look at the upcoming Development and Planning Commission meeting coming up next Tuesday the 25^th February at 9.30am in the John Mackintosh Hall. The ESG has had a number of discussions with people in our community expressing views or concerns about some of the projects, which are now in sight for discussion and approval by the DPC.

In the past 12 months and especially since the start of 2014 a number of very significant building developments have been agreed, which, collectively, means Gibraltar will once again be relegated to a major building site, if temporarily so, for now. Whilst many see these as important for Gibraltar, by meeting social and economic needs, with the undoubted spin offs this will provide for the various related industries, the scale of some of the projects warrants careful, holistic handling. This is critical if we are to mitigate against various environmental impacts such as disruption to traffic, impact on air and noise quality, and generally, from the sense that we are once again living in a building site – something many will also agree we experienced under the previous administration.

There is no doubt that Gibraltar will be undergoing a major physical transformation and that we, as a community, and via a more public planning system, can and should become more involved in the decision making process.

For this we need information and it will be useful for those of you interested to know that projects such as Rosia Bay and the Caleta Hotel will be presented to the Commission on the 25^th, that’s next Tuesday at 9.30am onwards. Hope to see you there. Oh, a reminder also that plans for these projects are up for viewing at the Town Planning Offices.

Tracking other issues as we do, the recent heavy pollution from the Cepsa Oil Refinery has not escaped our notice and we shall be issuing a press release on this later today.

Locally, the issue of Western Beach and bathing water quality remains as dire as ever. Check out the values on the EA site and you will see that levels of sewage remain illegal and a threat to public health. We continue to monitor and liaise with the MEPs on this and will also be releasing an update shortly.

Please contact us with any concerns or information at esg@gibtelecom.net. Call us at 54960000. Thanks for listening.  

Environmental news today covers old and new issues, which affect Gibraltar and the region. At the last DPC meeting, for example, and on planning matters, facing a group of protesters to the Marriott hotel project as it stands, decision was taken to defer under the chair’s advice that a major project such as that proposed by the Marriott applicant should aim to work with the community it intends to live among. Back to the drawing board to revise design and scale. Next DPC meeting will be held at the end of February with the agenda published a week beforehand and found on the Town Planning website.

At a recent Litter Committee meeting the ESG presented a detailed report on last year’s Clean up the world action. Outlining ongoing issues at various sites, the report reflects a dynamic campaign that highlights problems we need to solve together as a community, both in cleaning, prevention and behavioural issues. Enforcement is a big and difficult issue that a nation our size seems reluctant to embrace even though steps are being taken by the authorities to train and license more of its employees to fine litterers and fly tippers. The ESG believes the Clean Up campaign has also achieved great dividends for Gibraltar with the report also celebrating the significant gains for Rosia Bay’s waters after a concentrated effort by the largest diving team we have had to date as well as energetic ground crews to help remove waste pulled up by divers. A summarised version of the Clean Up Report in this area and many others will be found on our website this week – esg-gib.net.

It is hoped that a report from the Litter Committee outlining the many measures being taken by Govt and agencies to improve Gibraltar’s physical environment on litter and waste management will also be issued forthwith.

We recently went public with our concerns about the mother fuel ship coming to the detached mole heralding the start of a discussion for a “land-based” fuel supply for barges that service international maritime traffic. We are not advocating “no business”, simply best practice. Our press release is published on our website and we continue to hold talks with government ministries and the port about future plans for what is clearly an important business for Gibraltar. More information on this will be released soon.

Plans for reclamation for the new Power Station are gathering pace with in-depth assessments being done to ensure the infill goes ahead with least possible environmental impact. This is welcomed by the ESG.

An issue we are currently examining is that of ship hull cleaning in Gibraltar. We have been contacted by overseas journalists, seen articles in international media on this and have also been approached by concerned members of the public. This relates specifically to a charge that Gibraltar and Algeciras Ports continue to undertake hull cleaning practices using methods and or materials which are banned elsewhere in the world. This is highly disturbing in actuality, because of the impact on the environment, and also in giving Gibraltar a bad name overseas. The ESG is currently looking into this matter and plans to issue a full statement once all the facts are collected. Anyone with robust information on this is to please contact us at 200-48996 or mobile 54960000, or email at esg@gibtelecom.net. All contact information is available online and in the telephone directory.

The ESG wishes to also draw attention to recent polluting episodes across the border as these have regional importance. Spanish group Agaden have lodged official complaints to La Junta over the treatment facilities for hazardous industrial waste at GAMASUR in Los Barrios for some time but issues have peaked once again with highly toxic substances, such as cyanide, leaking from the plant and threatening river systems. The ESG will bring this to the notice of our MEPs as this carries serious implications for the Bay environment and these shockingly poor standards of containment of hazardous waste must be improved upon urgently.

That’s it for now, please get in touch if you would like any more information on what you have heard, or indeed, have any information for us. Thanks for listening.

10th January 2014

ESG is very concerned with the bunker storage tanker (Floating fuel station) being brought into the harbour with the immediate safety implications this entails. Concerns include the potential for major oil spill, fire, explosion in an area in close proximity to Shell storage tanks, the berths of military vessels and nuclear submarines, and that will also see the natural gas storage for the new power station.

The group believes there will be a probable increase of small oil spills on connecting and disconnecting fuel lines within the harbour in an enclosed area where some of our desalination plant intakes are located, leading to the deterioration of our harbour waters.

“There will be an inevitable increase in nauseating smells from bunker fumes as a result of the air displacement of fuel tanks in the tanker as well as the bunkering barges as these are filled and emptied leading to a deterioration of our air quality standards and to the quality of life of Gibraltar residents,” said a spokesperson.

The ESG has always advocated on-shore bunkering but this is not it. This is the worst of all scenarios where the bunkering industry is not brought onshore but the ship-to-ship oil transfers are brought port side within the harbour area.

The group believes that the concept of expanding the detached mole to create a bunkering fuel storage tank farm is the wrong one for Gibraltar. Once the visual impact of this is realised by the Gibraltarians, (it will look as if the refinery has been brought to the detached mole), and the emissions and risks associated with this are understood, it will not be welcomed. Gibraltar saw the effects of an explosion of a relatively small storage tank when the Nature storage tank exploded and how the local capabilities to control this were severely stretched. This makes a fuel storage tank farm of such a massive capacity at the detached mole simply not good for Gibraltar.

An option the ESG has always advocated is the complete dismantling of the old Kings Lines fuel storage area within the Rock and its external infrastructure, and for this to be rebuilt using the latest best available technology. This new storage facility would then be connected by new underground piping to the fuel connection points with proper on shore vapour recovery systems and for the connections to be within spill control bunding enclosures at the detached mole. There would then be no visual impact for the fuel storage in a much safer location within the Rock and no added visual impact at the detached mole, and no need for reclamation as there would only be fuel connection points there for the refuelling of the bunker barges.

If the fuel storage tanks necessary for the fuelling of the Royal Navy could be safely done within the Rock in the 1940’s there is really no reason to believe it could not be done in a much better and safer way today also within the Rock. Any new arrangement and infrastructure would be self-financed in what is a very profitable industry.

The ESG has followed the impact and practice of bunkering in Gibraltar for a considerable time and hopes that serious consideration will be given to all available alternatives that exist to bring fuel supply ashore in the safest and least environmentally impacting way, with quality of life safeguarded and public consultation exercised.

Check out ESG interview on GBC at:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnZgu9APZ9E

Hello, today is our first newsletter for 2014. Hope the festive celebrations met all your expectations.

2013 seems to have passed in a flash – on the environmental front we are hopeful that significant steps taken last year by Government will now pave the way for several major projects to take off in 2014. These being: The Sewage Treatment and Waste Treatment Plants and the long awaited new Power Generating Station.

All three projects were put out to tender in 2013 and we hope contracts are awarded quickly, once all consultation processes are completed. The ESG has lobbied for these since we formed over 13 years ago. Therefore we welcome the signs of imminent action. We further hope that once these three facilities are in place, we shall see major environmental gains that will also improve quality of life for all on the Rock.

We shall of course continue to share our own recommendations and monitor these issues with keen interest. We hope to reflect on other issues on our wish list in our next broadcast two weeks from now.

A quick mention of our highly successful environmental community campaign “Clean up the World” in 2013, engaged around 1,000 people including schools, clubs, associations, businesses, govt agencies and individuals to come together to do something practical and positive for our environment. 2014 will see our tenth year – plans will soon start for this years actions – plse get in touch if you would like to be involved. Call 54960000, or email: esg@gibtelecom.net.

The DPC, that’s the Development and Planning Commission, had its last meeting of the year in December with a number of controversial items on the agenda. Among these was the approval of the destruction of the Risso Bakery on Engineers Lane, the deferral of a proposed office block and large hotel on what was the Royal Yacht Club footprint –deferred in view of wide public objection, and permission for a new fuel pipeline in the port area.

The ESG is taking up the issue of the pipeline directly with Government, as we believe that holistic planning for the Port area is essential – an industrial area like the Port carries environmental impacts far beyond its fence line, and we reiterate our view that any new activity must be rigorously and publicly assessed.

The DPC will resume the same agenda, which was not completed, on the 10th January at 9.30am in the John Mackintosh Hall.

In 2014 we shall continue to work for the precautionary principle and best available technology to be applied to all industrial activity on the Rock – we know we are too small to simply adhere to EU standards – this includes the mobile phone network and industry, port and shipping activity, and much more.

We end by wishing all listeners and our members and supporters in particular a Happy New Year!

A recent stream of official announcements by the Spanish Government of major planned expansion of fuel tank farms in Algeciras and Los Barrios is a significant blow to the Bay environment (see Boletin No. 285 attached).

The Algeciras project brings this polluting activity practically to the centre of the Bay. It will undoubtedly affect water movement and water quality, as flow will be restricted. Furthermore it raises the risk of a shipping accident as vessel pathways continue to narrow, while maritime activity rises. The second smaller but still sizeable tank farm is planned for Los Barrios. This will see industrialisation take place on a major scale once again in the bay, eating up land area and impacting on marine ecosystems already under significant threat from existing chemical industries.

Given the Spanish Government’s complaints to the EU over the environmental impact of the relatively small reclamations being carried out in Gibraltar it is inconceivable that it continues to industrialise, pollute and reclaim land for massive projects as currently planned.

During the first phase of the Algeciras fuel farm, our group called for the environmental impact assessment on this project to be published and for an adequate accident response plan to be set up between the Port of Algeciras and Gibraltar to protect people and the environment should an accident occur which could have far reaching consequences. This never happened even though the ESG took this concern to Brussels as well as to the UK Government.

This was another issue we discussed recently with MEPs Sir Graham Watson and Ashley Fox. With two fuel farms going up the environmental impacts and risk will rise exponentially.

A cross border assessment to determine precisely what these will be is of fundamental importance.

It is industrial development at its worst, capitalising on economic hardship and basic health and safety standards, while at the same time destroying the natural environment. It will, without question, add to existing air and water pollution in an area that has long suffered decades of illegal industrial toxic discharges.

The ESG is also deeply concerned that these developments are announced by the same Spanish party in Government that this week absolved itself of any responsibility for the Prestige incident. At the time over 70,000 tons of fuel and other toxic waste were dumped into the waters of the Atlantic when Prestige was refused safe harbour at Galicia and led to a major environmental catastrophe.

The ESG hopes the Gibraltar and UK Government, as well as our MEPs, will urgently raise this issue in Brussels and seek to ensure that full oversight of all safety aspects of these latest projects are put in place if they cannot be stopped, which would be preferable. It is clear that this responsibility cannot be left up to the Spanish authorities that have also cut back on the essential independent monitoring of the toxic industries and their impact in the Campo area.

Finally it is hoped that the Gibraltar Government will examine all available information to establish the true impact this could have on our own marine environment as well as on Gibraltar’s environment on the whole.

You can find details of Gibraltar’s current radiation Emergency Response Plan at:-

http://www.environmental-agency.gi/pdf/RadiationEmergencyResponsePlan.pdf

ESG view is that the document is far more robust and thorough than any previous plan. Nevertheless it believes that the execution of such a plan would be virtually impossible to do given Gibraltar’s size, population density and international border.
It reiterates its long held view that nuclear submarines should not berth in Gibraltar.

The following link is to a ten year old video (circa 7 minutes) of a tour and talk by Denny Larson (Global Monitor and leader of the Bucket Brigade Movement) when he visited Gibraltar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kHkSkcOiNk&feature=youtu.be

There are several links on this website to the work undertaken by the Bay Bucket Brigade made up of NGO’s from both sides of the border and coordinated by the ESG and funded by Hassans and other members of the community.
Have a look – the visible pollution is frightening especially as the backdrop to the young child in the playground in the heart of the industrial complex in the campo area.