Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

A multi-agency recovery coordination group including Carmarthenshire County Council, Natural Resources Wales, Public Health Wales and Valero, believes that the majority of the kerosene spilled due to pipeline damage at Nantycaws, Carmarthen, has now been recovered. An estimated 139,500 cubic metres of kerosene product has been recovered by the company employed by Valero to clear the contamination from land and waterways. The section of old damaged pipe, now replaced, has been sealed at both ends, and initial results from bore hole monitoring shows only low level residual contamination identified in and around the Nant Pibwr, which is being captured with temporary river booms. Heavy rainfall at the beginning of last week flushed through some remaining product, enabling further recovery. Additional measures were put in place to deal with ‘remobilised’ contamination entering the Nant Pibwr due to the intense rainfall. The recovery coordination group will continue to monitor, cleanse and...

A significant amount of the Kerosene oil which escaped from the damaged pipeline at the A48 in Nantycaws, Carmarthen, has been recovered. Valero, the company responsible for the pipeline works has confirmed approximately 120,000 litres of the estimated 140,000 litres of oil lost has been recovered to date. Works to repair the pipeline and isolate the leak last weekend were successful; with the westbound carriageway of the A48 opening earlier than planned. Commissioning of the new pipeline will commence at the end of this week and the re-opening of the A48 eastbound carriageway is planned to take place on November 1. Carmarthenshire County Council has now taken over as lead agency as part of the recovery operation, working closely with Natural Resources Wales, Public Health Wales, Dyfed-Powys Police and other partners. NRW staff are continuing to monitor the site and investigate the impact of the incident on the local environment. Tests confirm no public water drinking supplies have b...

Operation Focus: Anniversary Press Release | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys The fire and explosion at the Valero (formerly Chevron) Oil Refinery, Rhoscrowther, Pembrokeshire, which occurred on the 2nd of June 2011, in which four workers were tragically killed and another seriously injured, reaches its one year anniversary on Saturday 2nd June. The investigation into the cause of the incident by Dyfed Powys Police and the Health and safety executive, who have a dedicated investigation team, continues. As the investigation has progressed, two individuals employed by Chevron have been interviewed under caution in relation to offences of Gross Negligence Manslaughter. This has taken place as part of the wider investigation therefore no conclusions should be drawn at this stage.  In addition, enquiries have been made with in excess of 1,800 potential witnesses with over 200 providing statements to date.

Operation Focus Update: Chevron Refinery explosion and fire 2 June 2011 | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys Dyfed Powys Police can confirm that on Tuesday the 7th of February 2012 they interviewed a second employee of Valero Energy Limited under caution at Haverfordwest Police Station in connection with the explosion at the Refinery in Pembroke, which occurred on the 2nd of June 2011 killing four workers and seriously injuring one other. At the time of the incident the Refinery was operated by Chevron Limited. This person was interviewed in relation to potential offences of Manslaughter by Gross Negligence. This is the second person interviewed under caution during this enquiry, the first employee of Valero Energy Limited, also interviewed in relation to potential offences of Manslaughter by Gross Negligence on the 24th of January 2012.