WHAT IS A
COMAH Site?
Businesses that handle dangerous substances fall within the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations 2015. The aim of the regulations is to try to prevent major accidents involving dangerous substances and limit the impact to people and the environment when a major accident occurs. Both the Fife NGL and Fife Ethylene Plant are designated Top-Tier COMAH sitesWHAT IS A
Buncefield site?
On the 11th December 2005 an oil storage facility (Buncefield) located in Hertfordshire suffer a major catastrophe after a series of explosions. The explosion measured 2.4 on the Richter scale with the air and vapour cloud that formed causing an explosion equivalent to 30 tonnes of TNT. Fife NGL is designated a Buncefield type site due to the similarity of the plant.
Mossmorran Plant which incorporates the Fife Ethylene Plant (ExxonMobil) and the Fife NGL Plant (Shell)
Fife Ethylene Plant operated by ExxonMobil
Fife NGL operated by Shell
Fife Council and ExxonMobil approved Pond Dipping workshops at a Top Tier COMAH site for primary school children.
Parents haven't been fully informed of the risks, and HSE have been critical of the risk assesments conducted by Fife Council and ExxonMobil - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-50000353
Fife Ethylene Plant - Elevated flare stack.
Fife NGL Plant - Elevated flare stack.
Fife NGL Plant - ground flare modules
Mossmorran
Mossmorran Pollutants
A list of the pollutants emitted by Fife NGL (Shell) and the Fife Ethylene Plant (ExxonMobil). Data includes quantities (as provided to SEPA), and the potential hazards & health impacts
Fife Ethylene (ExxonMobil) - Air Pollutants emitted per tonne in 2015
Fife NGL (Shell) - Air Pollutants emitted per tonne in 2015
Fife Ethylene (ExxonMobil) - Air Pollutants emitted per tonne in 2016
Fife NGL (Shell) - Air Pollutants emitted per tonne in 2016
Fife Ethylene (ExxonMobil) - Air Pollutants emitted per tonne in 2017
Fife NGL (Shell) - Air Pollutants emitted per tonne in 2017
Who is Responsible
There is a multi-agency involvement with the site, and responsibilities on the local authority, Scottish Government and UK Government
Shell UK Fife NGL and ExxonMobil Chemical Limited FEP at Mossmorran are regulated under the PPC. Licences, known as permits, set conditions that must be met to prevent or reduce any impact on the environment. For FNGL and FEP at Mossmorran the PPC Permits include specific conditions on flaring including a requirement to provide an incident report for any significant unplanned flaring.
SEPA are under the jurisdiction of the Holyrood Government
As part of the original planning conditions it was a requirement that both companies set up a liaison committee. Whilst the secretary of state agreed with this suggestion, he concluded that the setting up of such committees should rest with the local authorities not the developers.
The Mossmorran & Braefoot Bay Community and Safety Committee ("the Committee") is meant to provide a forum to enable local communites to:
be aware of developments likely to take place at Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay;
be briefed on environmental impacts and safety issues associated with the existing plant and terminal, as well as any developments affecting them,
and allow the views of local communities on these issues to be properly addressed.
You can learn more on our Community Representation page.
Group is the responsibility of Fife Council
The Shell UK and Exxon Mobil Chemical Limited Sites at Mossmorran fall under the COMAH Regulations which are jointly regulated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and SEPA as the Competent Authority. Qualifying sites are divided into Lower Tier and Top Tier sites based on quantities of dangerous substances held on the site.
The Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay sites are classed as Upper Tier sites due to the quantities of highly flammable substances present. As such they must submit a Safety Report every five years which demonstrates the implementation of safety management systems to prevent major accidents and limit their consequences to people and the environment.
HSE are under the jurisdiction of the Westminster Government
The Mossmorran & Braefoot Bay Independent Air Quality Monitoring Review Group (the Review Group) was formed to provide advice and recommendations to Fife Council regarding the monitoring of emissions resulting from the operations at the Mossmorran plants and the Braefoot Bay terminal facilities (operated by Shell UK Limited and ExxonMobil Chemical Limited).
The Review Group consists of an Independent Chair and representatives from Fife Council, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM). Representatives of ExxonMobil and Shell attend the Review Group meetings by invitation. The Review Group liaises with local communities, local Community Councils and representatives of the local health service.
Group is the responsibility of Fife Council
Are you Represented?
Who represents your interests at the Mossmorran & Braefoot Bay Community and Safety Committee? Who takes gifts from ExxonMobil?
Have you been impacted by Mossmorran?
Submit a report to our Social Impact Map
Have you suffered from the operations at Mossmorran? Has your health been affected? Do you know of any Environmental or Social impacts from Mossmorran? Submit a report to our social impact map. All responses are in confidence and not shared with any 3rd parties. Data is anonymised before being added to the map.
