The recent bout of Mossmorran flaring has seen SEPA widely criticised for its attempts to monitor air quality during the flaring. One report even described the monitoring as laughable. It’s hardly surprising that our local communities are sick to the back teeth with authorities constantly doing little or nothing to solve the problem.

SEPA is a public body of the Scottish Government and its website quotes ‘our role is to make sure that the environment and human health are protected…….’ Whether it is achieving its aims in the Mossmorran case is surely extremely doubtful, judging by local comments.

SEPA issued Final Warning Letters to the operators in April 2018 as a consequence of the infamous 2-week flaring episode in June 2017. This was followed by further incidents in 2018 and 2019 which are under investigation. It is not understood locally what actions SEPA can take if further incidents follow the ‘Final’ letters, which have happened in 2018 and 2019. SEPA is now at a crossroads in the credibility stakes as it ponders what further action to take.

The lack of action by the authorities has, in part, been responsible for the emergence of the Mossmorran Action Group (MAG), a resident-led non-political group which is actively pursuing an independent investigation into the effect of Mossmorran activity on local communities and the environment. The group has 2,150 members, which reflects the growing number of residents who want to see positive action being taken to ‘sort’ the Mossmorran problem for once and for all. Indeed, MAG has organised a public meeting in Lochgelly Town Hall on Friday 17 May at which SEPA, amongst others, will be in attendance.

It is believed that SEPA has limited access to air monitoring equipment and thereby finds it difficult to react swiftly to air pollution reports. With a 34-year record of persistent flaring at Mossmorran, permanent air monitoring equipment should be installed at, say, 4 strategic locations around the site, which would provide reliable and meaningful real-time information.

The First Minister for Scotland states that we are in climate emergency and that Scotland will lead the way in reducing carbon emissions. The Scottish Government is to therefore review its climate policy.

This may possibly lead to Mossmorran emission levels being deemed unacceptable. ExxonMobil Mossmorran was Scotland’s third biggest carbon dioxide polluter in 2017 (source: the Ferret). If the Government’s ambitions are sincere, then it may lead to increased funding and powers for SEPA which it urgently requires if it is to be acknowledged as an effective public watchdog.

JOE PURVES.

McKenzie Crescent,

Lochgelly.