THE Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), who are currently carrying out an investigation into the flaring incidents that happened at the ExxonMobil Fife Ethylene Plant between June 12 and 20 this year, have this week advised Alex Rowley MSP that no formal report of the investigation will be made public.

Mr Rowley, who held talks with SEPA, told the Times that he had been advised that the investigation was limited to establishing whether or not any breaches of the operating permits under the ‘Pollution Prevention Control Regime’ had taken place.

The Fife MSP has written to Scottish Government Ministers calling for an independent review of the workings, processes and current condition of the Fife Ethylene Plant and told the Times: “I understand that SEPA has a role in ensuring the current operating conditions are adhered to and as such have an ongoing relationship with ExxonMobil Chemicals Limited.

“I also understand that they have set up a separate investigation into the latest specific episode of flaring that has caused such widespread concerns across the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area, but it is disappointing that there will not be a detailed report published explaining what went wrong that resulted in the latest flaring”.

He added: “SEPA were very clear that if there has been breaches of the operating permits then they will take appropriate action, but were equally clear that their remit does not extend to a wider investigation of the site. So this latest incident is being treated as a one- off situation.

“I believe we need a wider review that examines why these incidents are happening more frequently and what is the condition of this site.

“That must be ordered and paid for by the Scottish Government who cannot hide behind SEPA and their role as a regulator”.

Mr Rowley said he will be pushing Ministers to go much further than the SEPA review of the latest incident and is also contacting the Health and Safety Executive to raise the ongoing concerns with them.

He also asked SEPA to provide a detailed list of all episodes of flaring over the last 15 years.

Government Minister, Roseanna Cunningham, has assured Mr Rowley that if the SEPA report uncovers any issues that need addressing enforcement action would be taken.