The Environment Agency has providing an update on its ongoing monitoring and investigations of odour related issues in the Penrith area and has said that the agency is investigating sources other than Omega Proteins in connection with a spike in odour complaints to the EA hotline.
The Environment Agency said: “We are aware that Omega Proteins continues to be a source of concern for the Penrith community and surrounding areas.
“The Environment Agency continues to regulate the site in accordance with the permit and monitor the odour reports received.”
The number of odour reports in the first 12 days of August was 185 with 87 in July, 106 in June, and 48 in May.
The agency said that it is investigating sources other than Omega Proteins as the source of the odour and has previously publicly announced there are eight sites around Penrith responsible for odour emissions although the Environment Agency has refused since to publish a list of the eight sites.
Following the spike of 90 odour reports over the 8th and 9th of August the Environment Agency said “We are currently investigating the reason for the spike in odour reports in August, including 90 reports over 8-9th August. The source of odours is not yet clear to us and we are also investigating sources other than Omega Proteins.”
The spokesperson for the environment agency added “We are aware that Westmorland and Furness Council are conducting as statutory nuisance investigation, and we have provided them with information to help them do this. This does not affect the regulation work we conduct, and we continue to address matters relating to odour directly with the company.”
The Environment Agency said that they would like residents to continue reporting odour in the Penrith area to them as it helps build a picture of its extent and impact. Reports can be made 24 hours a day on 0800 807060 and reports can now be submitted to the Environment Agency via email at incident_communication_service@environment-agency.co.uk
The Environment Agency carried out onsite inspections at Omega Proteins in January, April and August and also carried out an 'operator monitoring assessment to better understand if emissions are fully compliant with permit limits on the gas thermal oxidiser.
The Environment Agency spokesperson said “Omega Proteins remains one of our top priorities and we are utilising as much of our available resource as we can, including using national experts where applicable.”
“If you believe Omega Proteins may be the source of odours in Penrith you should also report this directly to the company as soon as possible.”
“This will mean the company can quickly investigate the report. This is particularly important with intermittent odour.”
A spokes person for the Leo Group who operate the Omega Proteins plant just outside Penrith said “Since Leo Group acquired the operation in 2002, we have been continually investing in the site, making it the most extensively invested rendering plant in the UK, providing a valuable service to the agriculture and meat industry. Multiple odour abatement processes are used, exceeding current BAT (Best Available Techniques) guidance.”
“The number of complaints received by the Environment Agency are 'reported complaints' and not 'substantiated complaints'. Unfortunately, this is a distinction that is always overlooked. As every complaint that is reported to us by the Environment Agency is also investigated by us and our findings are passed back to the Environment Agency, who also perform their own offsite check, we can say with certainty that a significant amount of these complaints is not substantiated to Omega Proteins. “
“We take every complaint seriously and encourage everyone to contact our dedicated odour hotline on 07976 857 435 so that our odour checkers can investigate in real time.We aim to be on site within 15 minutes of receiving a report.”
“Alternatively, complaints can now be submitted to the Environment Agency via email. To further support the Environment Agency and ensure a real time investigation by our odour checkers, we would like to ask everyone to also include our Environmental Team in the correspondence.
Please copy: PenrithEnvironmental@omegaproteins.co.uk and incident_communication_service@environment-agency.co.uk “
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