Will ‘final warning’ have any real meaning

MANY Fifers welcomed that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has finally issued a “final warning” to ExxonMobil and Shell occasioned by their emergency flaring at Mossmorran last June.

However, what happens to this final warning if the two investigations SEPA is still in the process of conducting into two further periods of emergency flaring also turn out to have grievously breached regulations? A final, final warning or a final, final, final warning?

The absurdity points to the inadequacy of both SEPA and the legislative framework within which it operates to give meaningful protection to the residents who live near Mossmorran and who have no choice to endure the noise, light and pollution caused by emergency flaring.

After 33 years, it really is time the Scottish Government stepped in with an independent inquiry into the total cumulative environmental, social and health impacts of the plant so that a system of mitigation and regulation can be put in place which gives residents real protection.

LINDA HOLT,

Dreel House,

Pittenweem.