Stop 150 tonnes of Syria's chemical weapons from being incinerated in Ellesmere Port

The Issue

*** If you or your fiends feel strongly about this issue and would like to voice your opinion, please email me on kibblehayden@gmail.com ***

The Ministry of defence have signed a deal with a French company called Veolia which will lead to 150 tonnes of chemicals from Syria's chemical weapons stockpile being shipped into Ellesmere port and incinerated. This is set to happen within weeks.

The incinerator where this will take place is located just 2 miles upwind of Elton primary school and surrounded by towns and villages.

The Ministry of Defence and Veolia have kept the details of the deal quiet and no information has been released regarding the level of risk to public safety or the damaging effect of pollution that the destruction of these toxic chemicals will have on the environment.

Transporting and destroying such a huge amount of dangerous chemicals carries a very high risk, even for an experienced waste management company. Accidents can and do happen. The effect of an accident on the local population could be devastating. Carrying out this operation in such close proximity to a primary school is wreckless and shows a complete disregard for the safety of our children.

Burning 150 tonnes of dangerous chemicals will almost certainly release a vast amount of smoke into the environment. The local population could suffer adverse effects for years to come, however no details of this have been released by the Ministry of Defence.

We must act now to protect our community and show the Ministry of Defence that we will not allow our area to be used as a toxic dumping ground at the cost of our health and safety and the health and safety of our children for generations to come.

Other suitable high temperature incinerators exist around the UK, which are not in such close proximity to residential areas and schools, for example Tradebe incinerator in Fawley, Southampton. We propose that the MOD consider this location as a suitable, safer alternative.

Hayden KPetition Starter

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This petition had 1,371 supporters

The Issue

*** If you or your fiends feel strongly about this issue and would like to voice your opinion, please email me on kibblehayden@gmail.com ***

The incinerator where this will take place is located just 2 miles upwind of Elton primary school and surrounded by towns and villages.

Hayden KPetition Starter

Media enquiries

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This petition had 1,371 supporters

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The Decision Makers

Andrew Miller,

Responded

“ Destruction of chemicals from the Syrian weapons programme at Veolia plant Ellesmere Port. Many people have raised this issue with me and I fully understand their concerns given the failure of Government to brief anyone locally about the proposal. There is no Parliamentary mechanism to stop the contract which has been lawfully established. The Foreign Secretary has publically apologised for the oversight in briefing me and other stakeholders and the key questions have now been answered by the MOD. I have also received a Ministerial briefing that included experts from the MOD and the Environment Agency. Their discussion with me is reflected in the q&a below. The questions were tabled by me and the answers are the responsibility of Government: Questions tabled by Andrew Miller on the 20th January were to ask the Foreign Secretary: 1. What the nature is of the contract between the Government and Veolia Environmental Services in respect of the destruction of chemical weapons at Ellesmere Port. 2. With reference to the Government’s contract with Veolia Environmental Services in respect of the destruction of chemical weapons at Ellesmere Port, what the nature is of the material to be destroyed; whether it is all in solid or liquid phase; and whether any ordnance will come to Ellesmere Port. 3. With reference to the Government’s contract with Veolia Environmental Services in respect of the destruction of chemical weapons at Ellesmere Port, what steps he is taking to ensure the safe transit of the chemical weapons within the UK; and which other sites are being utilised for this purpose. 4. With reference to the Government’s contract with Veolia Environmental Services in respect of the destruction of chemical weapons at Ellesmere Port, whether the process involves any (a) discharge to local water courses and (b) risk of any of the material venting to the atmosphere in a toxic state. 5. With reference to the Government’s contract with Veolia Environmental Services in respect of the destruction of chemical weapons at Ellesmere Port, whether the Government will require any oversight of the process other than that previously applied to the site. Answers I have received from the Minister, Philip Dunne MP in Ministry of Defence are as follows: “No chemical weapon agents will be brought to the UK for destruction, no ordnance or munitions, and no explosives. As part of the international effort to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons programme, in support of UN Security Council Resolution 2118, the UK has agreed to destroy 150 tonnes of two industrial grade chemicals from Syria. Both these chemicals are chloroamines, with very similar chemical properties, and are referred to as “B” precursors. These chemicals are no more toxic than many other chemicals that are routinely manufactured, processed and destroyed in the UK, under standard regulatory and security measures. One of the two chemicals is used as an intermediate for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, and identical chemicals were imported into the UK in 2012 for this purpose. The “B” chemicals would become highly toxic only if mixed with an “A” precursor to make V-type nerve agents. (A separate tender process, managed by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, will determine how other chemicals from Syria, including the “A” chemicals, will be destroyed.) The “B” chemicals will be sealed in containers under the supervision of international inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and transported in ISO containers which comply with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code. Some of the “B” chemicals are in solid and some in liquid form. The volume of liquid “B” chemicals is equivalent to some five standard road tankers; the volume of solid “B” chemicals is about half of this. Veolia Environmental Services Ltd was selected by MOD in 2011, following competition, as its contractor for the management of both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. This contract with the MOD’s Disposal Services Authority is being used by the Government to facilitate the speedy destruction of the B Precursors. Veolia will destroy all these chemicals and associated packaging in its High Temperature Incinerator at Ellesmere Port. The operation of the incinerator at Ellesmere Port will be in accordance with the environmental permit granted by the Environment Agency, which controls the types and quantities of waste that may be handled, and includes strict limits on all emissions from the incinerator. The chemicals themselves will be destroyed in the incineration process, and the gases resulting from combustion will be treated prior to release into the atmosphere. Emissions will be monitored to ensure that releases are within the permit limits and pose no risk to safety. Veolia confirm that the process does not involve any discharge to local water courses, and that the chemicals will be passed directly into the incinerator. The operation will be subject to the routine inspection regime of the Environment Agency and Health and Safety Executive. International inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons will verify that the chemicals have been completely destroyed. All the relevant Government Departments and Agencies are working closely together and with Veolia to ensure that all appropriate safety and security measures are taken throughout the process, including arrival of the chemicals in a UK port, transport within the UK, temporary storage and final destruction, to the same standards as apply to the routine handling of such chemical waste and hazardous materials. The whole operation is expected to last a few weeks.” Whilst I appreciate that people have concerns I am confident that this site has the expertise to safely destroy the chemicals, they have been handling similar materials for many years and are recognised globally for their abilities in this field. The issues that give concern are obviously safety and security over transport and proper oversight of the process, which a combination of the Environment Agency and other agencies will do as a matter of course. I would add that I am unable to respond to individuals who have petitioned through this site as I do not have their contact details. Constituents are welcome to contact me at any time if they have further points that need answering. Andrew Miller MP ”

Andrew Miller

Responded

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Petition created on 19 January 2014