UK Military Pollution

This document includes:

British Army flouts environmental responsibilities - 8th August '98
Letter to UK MoD re Land Quality Assesments - 8th August '98
Letter to George Foulkes MP
Letter to UK Mod re Armagh pollution -8th August '98
Letter to Irish Government re UK military pollution - 8th August '98
Cleanup underway
League seeks progress report
UK misleads Irish Government over military pollution
Military pollution campaign vindicated
Britain's Military not so "green"

"Pollution dosen't matter because we can get away with it."

She was arguing that the Army should change its ways and adapt to meet environmental targets set by civil legislation. The debate about the green credentials of the British military was joined by the Celtic League in the early part of this decade.

We suggested that all the British services were responsible for breathtaking irresponsibility in relation to environmental standards. Although our initial concerns were evaded, by 1996, the British MOD were forced to admit to possible pollution at a staggering six hundred military locations and some remedial work was put in hand.

One of the areas we cited was N. Ireland where due to the large military presence and operational conditions even the poor standards set in Great Britain were not met. Again the MOD promised action and surveys and clean ups were scheduled at several bases. This month's focus on the pollution problem at small border facilities such as that at Faughil in S. Armagh indicate however that the Army has still not cleaned up its act.

"It doesn't matter we can get away with it," still seems to be the order of the day as the MOD flout their own environmental mission statement.

J B Moffatt pp Celtic League

Text of Letter UK MoD re Land Quality Assesments - 8th August '98

Dear Mr. Hall,

I wrote to the Minister c/o ENV (Pol) 2 earlier this year. A copy of my letter is attached.

I was responding to your communication of the 3/9/97 concerning pollution of military sites and Land Quality Assessments being carried out by the MOD.

I would be grateful if you could respond to these queries and also if information on the progress of MOD environmental remedial work could be provided.

I accept that it might be time consuming and expensive to respond to all public queries on this issue by supplying full copies of the Land Quality Assessments (should these indeed be bulky documents),
however I would ask that in the interests of openness the MOD should make summaries available.

I would draw a parallel here with MOD policy in relation to military air accidents where the full report is not available free of cost but a summary of the investigation is always readily supplied.

I have requested information on the progress of site assessment and remedial work in Scotland, wales and N. Ireland and indeed have identified some particular bases we are interested in I do hope you can be more forthcoming with this information.

In September 1996 I understand that the MOD Estates organisation Surveyors let out contracts for surveys of potential contamination on some 600 military sites focusing initially on 60. Can you indicate to us if this is the case and if so do the successful contractors not supply reports and are these available?

I am writing to you separately about a specific contamination incident and if this query is outside your brief would ask that you refer it on as appropriate.

I will also be forwarding a copy of this letter to Mr. George Folks MP, who we contacted with our concerns in 1996 and who was instrumental in initiating the action by the former Defence Secretary Mr. Portillo. I will be asking Mr. Foulkes to use his good offices with the Defence Secretary to ensure the information we have been seeking is placed in the House of Commons Library so that at the very least it is available to MPs.

Yours sincerely

J. B. Moffatt

Text of Letter to Mr George Foulkes MP - 7th August '98

I attach a letter to the MOD Environmental Policy unit concerning the pollution of military lands and the quality assessment and remedial work which was announced following your intervention with the former
Defence Minister Portillo and Soames.

I am bitterly disappointed that despite requests for specific information the MOD still seem to wish to keep this under wraps.

As indicated in the letter I can accept that to supply vast amounts of copious reports could be both time consuming and costly and have suggested that perhaps the MOD could provide summary information on
the work undertaken to date identifying briefly the nature of the contamination and what remedial action if possible is being undertaken.

I hope you can assist by inducing the MOD to be more open. No great issue of National Security is at stake in this and in the long term it will probably enhance the MODs "green credentials" if it does "open
the books".

Yours sincerely
Bernard Moffatt

7/8/98

Text of Letter to UK MoD re Armagh Pollution incidents - 7th August '98

Dear Mr. Hall,

I understand from the South Armagh Farmers and Residents Committee that a serious pollution problem exists at a Military Base/Observation post situated on Faughil mountain in the S. Armagh Border area overlooking Co. Louth in the Irish Republic.

The facility there has apparently been in place for over twelve years and the area around the base is allegedly contaminated with sewage, and possible other domestic waste from kitchen and drain out-falls.
Given that various fuels and lubricants are also stored on site, in ad hoc facilities, there is a possibility of surface and sub surface contamination by these material together with the other contaminants
has occurred on the hillside below the base.

It is apparent that the group have had little success to date in eliciting action from the authorities to address this problem. They have quite properly raised the issue with both civil and military authorities
in N. Ireland. The civil authorities would seem to have difficulty accessing this facility and the MOD (NI) admit there is a problem.

I understand that the MOD Environmental Policy Statement indicates that:

The Department:

- "ensures compliance with the letter and spirit of the Environmental
Protection Act 1990 (which applies to all existing personnel, Service
and civilian) and with all other existing environmental legislation"

I am also aware that the policy allows the Crown to invoke exemptions in certain circumstances and given security implications this derogation may have been applied to this site. However there is bsolutely no excuse today for the proper assessment and clean up of this installation to be effected and we would hope the Ministry will prioritise this.

Referring again to the MOD Environmental Policy Statement, a section indicates that the MOD should "strive to be a good neighbour at home and abroad". Sadly in this respect the MOD has failed to meet its
obligations to the people of this area by responding positively to their concerns and again we would trust that this deficiency can be addressed.

Yours sincerely

J B Moffatt Secretary General
7/8/98

Text of Letter to Irish Government re UK MoD pollution - 7th August '98

Dear Sir,

I corresponded with your Office in 1996 (see attached) concerning pollution around military bases in the N. Ireland.

At that time the issue was raised with the British Authorities via the Anglo-Irish Secretariat and certain assurances given in relation to one site, the Army base at Bessbrook in S. Armagh.

The MOD confirmed to us in September 1997 that the promised remedial work had been undertaken at this site and at others in N. Ireland and we are currently asking for further information on this.

After correspondence between the League and a community group in S.Armagh I have written to the MOD in London concerning very bad pollution at a Military Observation base on the Armagh border (Faughil Mountain). Given the copy you forwarded to us of the MOD Environmental Policy Statement it would appear that they are not meeting their own standards in relation to this and possibly other small sites in the Border areas.

Land contamination from even a small facility can, if not remedied, spread over a considerable area. The British Army's own report some years ago by 2nd Lt. Verity Orrel Jones RE highlighted this. The pollution, once it permeates to the water table, can disperse over an even greater area and causes a pollution legacy which can last for generations.

We would ask you to use your good Offices with the British authorities to have immediate remedial action taken at Faughil mountain and also to seek an assurance that the Land Quality Assessment programme currently under-way at military sites in Gt. Britain and N. Ireland be extended
to these smaller installations.

Our organisation will be pressing this last point with the Ministry of Defence.

Yours sincerely

J B Moffatt

Secretary General
7/8/98

Environmental Clean Up Underway - 22-09-97

 In the early 1990s the Celtic League were concerned at reports emerging from the newly freed eastern bloc countries about environmental damage caused by the military. We speculated, accurately as it transpires, that Western military countries would also have a bad record.

 We first raised concerns in 1991 about possible pollution at the missile testing establishment at Aberporth in Wales. Then, in 1993, we learned that uncirculated reports by both the British Army and RAF confirmed widespread pollution at military sites.

 Despite protracted correspondence the MOD indicated they had no knowledge of the document. However we uncovered enough information to produce a pamphlet Britain's Military Not So Green in which we asserted that their is pollution on a large scale, around military sites. We specifically identified the missiles sites at Aberporth and Benbecula and also bases in N.Ireland and specifically the Bessbrook heliport in S. Armagh. Still British government denials continued with Nicholas Soames rejecting a question laid down on our behalf by (then) Labour back bencher George Foulkes. Eventually, after further publicity and parliamentary probing, Defence Secretary Portillo conceded there was a problem and indicated that land quality Statements were to be undertaken for up to 600 sites.

 The MOD have confirmed that a clean-up has taken place at the S. Armagh (Bessbrook) base, they also indicate that work is proceeding elsewhere in N. Ireland. They further indicate a pollution assessment is to be undertaken at RAF Aldegrove - this is interesting as we understand that bases such as Aldegrove came in for criticism in the confidential RAF report, prepared about five years ago, which has still not been released.

 We have also received assurances that former MOD sites operated by the DERA are to be checked. These include the missile testing establishments at Aberporth and in the Hebrides however there are also a range of installations in S. W. Scotland. The MOD say:

 "DERA's programme (of land quality assessments) is also prioritised based on an assessment of environmental risks and future use of specific sites"

 The worrying factor here is that in fact DERA are carrying their own in house monitoring with no apparent external scrutiny - because of the secret nature of some their research.

 The Celtic League will be taking up on an MOD invitation to supply Land Quality Statements for some specific sites. The invitation to offer these is a refreshing about face on the attitude at MOD under the previous government, although the indication that a charge will be levied suggests that some at the MOD still want to keep this information under wraps.

Progress report sought - 03-08-97

 The League are also pressing for information on the progress of work to rectify pollution problems at Bessbrook military base in S. Armagh and are calling on the British government to use the improved security situation to undertake a proper appraisal of all N. Ireland military sites.

 Bessbrook and two other sites (missile ranges) in the United Kingdom were specifically mentioned in the Celtic League's original pamphlet.

MOD CONFIRM POLLUTION AT BASES IN N. IRELAND -20-09-96

 In a reply to the Celtic League from the office of the Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Irish officials tell the League the British denied the report's contention saying it contained "a number of generalities concerning the Ministry's (MOD) environmental credentials for which no supporting evidence is provided".

 The Northern Ireland based British Officials were apparently unaware that the Leagues "generalities" were based on a general report prepared by a British army engineering Officer in 1992 which the MOD had attempted to suppress. They were obviously also unaware that illustrations in the League publication were taken directly from that report.

 In August, the MOD were eventually forced to confirm the substance of League concerns after questions were tabled for us by English Labour MP, George Foulkes. The Celtic League has since passed further information to English Labour environment spokesman, Michael Meacher. The MOD are now to carry out surveys across the United Kingdom. No specfic mention, however, was made of the considerable installations in N. Ireland. The Irish government confirm in their correspondence to the League, that installations in N. Ireland are to be upgraded. They also have confirmation from the British that the base at Bessbrook in S. Armagh was, as we alleged, polluted by fuel solvents.

 Bessbrook was one of three bases singled out for special attention in our report published in 1994 - the others were the missile testing facilities at Aberporth in mid Wales and Benbecula / South Uist in the Hebrides. The League are disappointed that the British military in N. Ireland continued to maintain the fiction of responsible environmental practice when all the evidence both there and in Britain pointed to the opposite.

 In their haste to conceal this record, they have committed the ultimate faux pas: Condemning a report by the League, which is based on the British Army's own findings!

 J.B. Moffatt pp. Celtic League

League's campaign over military pollution vindicated - 01-09-96

 A five year campaign, by the Celtic League, aimed at achieving environmental assessments around British military installations has been vindicated. The Ministry of Defence are to conduct "land quality surveys" at 600 sites throughout the UK.

 It was in 1991 that the Celtic League first contacted the M.O.D. addressing specific questions about the storage of fuel at missile testing establishments and the carcinogenic dangers of any contamination from this source. The MOD were dismissive but the campaign was stimulated when the League learned, in 1993, that two surveys conducted in parallel by the British Army and RAF had found serious levels of contamination around a wide range of bases and airfields.

 Despite attempts to gain access to the reports, we were again stonewalled by the Ministry. We supplied detail of one of the reports compiled by a 2nd Lt. Verity Orrel Jones and referred to its publication by the Royal Engineers. Curiously the MOD still prevaricated advising that the Army "are unaware of such a report". We say curiously because it transpires that the reports author (now promoted Colonel) received an award for the work. In 1995, in the face of continued MOD intransigence and having gathered the information elsewhere, we published detailed accusations about the military pollution record.

 Finally, three months ago, we asked (U.K) Labour MP George Foulkes to elicit the information the MOD were withholding. Mr. Foulkes initial approach was rebutted by Under Secretary Nicholas Soames. In a reply on 24th of June, Soames said evasively "My Department does not normally undertake surveys of land beyond the perimeter of sites it occupies ". Apparently the MOD has now decided to come clean and not only should an apology be on its way to George Foulkes, but the information sought should be published. More pertinently, a thorough in depth survey of MOD lands is to take place so that once and for all the legacy of years of environmental neglect can be assessed and rectified.

 The Celtic League will be continuing to monitor matters with a keen interest in seeing that the broad range of bases in Wales, Scotland & Cornwall are assessed. We also are keen that any assessment should include bases in Ulster - left out of previous random samples.

 J.B. Moffatt

BRITAIN'S MILITARY - NOT SO GREEN - 01-08-96

Most complaints about military activity in the Celtic areas relate to the more visible aspects of behaviour, yet there is an obscure but perhaps more lastingly damaging spin off from the military.

 As society has become more environmentally conscious, the attitude of the military has remained unmodified. There is a vast range of military installations throughout the Celtic areas of Great Britain and the Six Counties. These bases have been polluting the environment for years and, despite the legislative changes forced in civil society by greater environmental consciousness, there is little sign of changing attitudes in British MOD thinking.

 At the beginning of the decade, the MOD position was that the military still enjoyed "Crown immunity" from the application of environmental protection legislation. Whilst consideration was being given to lifting the exemption in the "future", the Ministry of Defence still believed that exemptions would be required in specific instances; most commonly on the grounds of "national security".

 The Ministry of Defence, in the name of the Secretary of State for Defence, can be prosecuted. Apparently, should the prosecution be successful, no penalty can be imposed. There is a basis in law for individuals to be held responsible for pollution incidents (e.g. Camp or Station Commanders) and also for individual members of the public to mount private prosecutions but, for various reasons, neither of these provisions provides realistic safeguards.

 For the purposes of brevity, we will consider a particular situation that causes serious environmental pollution that, although stemming from single and at times small sites, can cause long term damage. Most of the military bases contain either temporary or purpose built fuel dumps, many of which have obsolete infrastruture. In addition to the storage of petrol and diesel fuel oils, these contain lubricants, anti-freeze and de-icing compounds. Some store specialised fuel formulas.

 The military have accepted privately for sometime that these dumps are prone to leakage. Four years ago, both the Army and the RAF investigated the problem with a view to both assessing its extent and developing procedures to deal with it. Unfortunately, this research has not been given widespread circulation and, despite a year long correspondence with the British Ministry of Defence, we have been unable to acquire copies of any reports associated with it.

 With storage of fuel in the circumstances outlined above, the leakage over a period of years can lead to decades of contamination.

 The characteristics of oil and petrol mean that they are not immediately broken down or dissolved but rather they float. As seepage or spills continue the mass congregates and then in turn this mass reacts in three ways:
1) Toxic vapour and gas fumes contaminates the area above the mass.
2) A slow dissolving process takes place.
3) The dissolved product from (2) mixes with the ground water and pollutes the immediate water table and any water courses.

 The effect of the last characteristic is to extend the pollution far beyond the confines of the base whose source as the cause of the pollution is not easily identifiable.

 In addition to the fuel oils, the other compounds (anti-freeze, de-icers etc.) behave differently, but the end result is similar.

 As indicated, many installations are obsolete and it is questionable if they meet environmental standards set by civil society. In Ulster there was (and still is) the complication of the security situation. We can take Bessbrook in south Armagh as an example. It is sometimes described as the "busiest heliport in Europe". It must contain large supplies of a wide range of the fuels and compounds mentioned. Its problems are exacerbated by its size and the security situation.

 Extreme variations to the "dirty" rule are also likely to be found in less operationally trying bases than south Armagh. Test stablishments such as the rocket ranges in the Hebrides and the massive Aberporth facility in mid Wales are undoubtedly long overdue for independent environmental assessment.

 The MOD have carried out internal and "discreet" investigations some years ago. The consensus then was that the view within the three services was that "pollution doesn't matter because we can get away with it ". As all other facets of public life come under increasing pressure from domestic and European law to clean up their act, it's time the British Ministry of Defence cleaned up theirs!

 NB. Landowners or community groups living in the proximity or adjacent to military installations who have pollution problems caused by hydrocarbons, other solvents or any undetermined factor can contact the League with brief details of the problem.