Ruskell queries ‘final warning’ on Mossmoran flaring
Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell has urged the Scottish Government to take action after gas flaring by ExxonMobil at its Mossmoran plant since the Easter weekend has led to record complaints from affected residents.
Mr Ruskell, Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, has called on the First Minister to intervene after the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) said it was launching a new investigation into the flaring, despite them having already issued ExxonMobil with a ‘final warning’ letter in April 2018 over ‘preventable and unacceptable’ flaring.
Mark Ruskell MSP said:
“The fact that over 600 complaints have been received to date by SEPA’s 24 hour Pollution Hotline about Mossmoran flaring - one of the highest number for any single event - shows the depth of feeling there is on this issue.
“It’s not good enough for SEPA to just respond with a new investigation. There have been multiple investigations and ExxonMobil has already been given a final warning. In my book, when a final warning is breached, fines or other sanctions should follow. The Government must now take firm action against those responsible.
“We also need to go beyond the technical investigation and look at the real social impacts these flaring incidents have on people’s health and wellbeing. It’s time for an independent social impact study into the plant, and the sleeplessness, anxiety and health issues that are reported by the local community each time it flares.”