TORIES WANT TO STORE MERCURY IN ANHYDRITE MINES (Fiona Hall MEP)

Fiona Hall MEP <info@fionahall.org.uk>

TORIES WANT TO STORE MERCURY IN ANHYDRITE MINES

June 19, 2008 12:00 AM

Fiona with campaigners at the site of the anhydrite mines in Billingham

Fiona Hall has condemned attempts by Tories in the European Parliament to sanction the storage of mercury in anhydrite mines such as the former ICI mines in Billingham.

Fiona, who has been pushing the Government to give more information about the planned future use of the mines, said:

"The proposal by Tory MEP Martin Callanan leaves a huge question mark over the Billingham mines.

"Mercury is recognised to be a substance that is detrimental to human health, requiring strict control.

"We should be limiting as much as possible how mercury can be stored, not opening up the possibility of using a wide range of sites.

"I hope that the European Parliament will throw out this proposal in the vote tomorrow. Local people do not want the anhydrite mines to become a poison dumping ground."

More information:

The vote in the European Parliament tomorrow (Wednesday 20 June) is on the first reading of the Papadimoulis report on the banning of exports and the safe storage of metallic mercury. Amendment 40 from Martin Callanan MEP proposes changing the draft wording of "an underground salt mine adapted for waste disposal" to the phrase "an underground facility adapted for waste disposal of mercury", giving a justification that "Storage of waste mercury in a salt mine may not be feasible, but other sites such as anhydrite or mercury mines may be available and appropriate, more flexibility is needed to allow for these options."