|
Mr T Richards,
Head of Planning Services,
Harrogate Borough Council,
West Grove Road,
Harrogate HG1 2AU
Dear Mr Richards,
Re: Menwith Hill USA National Security Agency Station:
Circular 18/84: Notice of Proposed Development 6.500.229.CROWND
Removal of underground fuel storage tanks and replacement with aboveground tanks.
We have inspected the plans, which are held on file at the Harrogate Planning Office. We are concerned to discover that the quantities of hydrocarbon fuels held in
underground storage tanks at Menwith Hill are considerable.
The Plans show that the tanks to be replaced are at the Motor Pool (where the base vehicles are maintained); the AAFES Filling Station; numbers 9 - 17 of the diesel
storage tanks for the 'Jetsams' electricity generators (1 - 8 are aboveground already); heating fuel storage at rear of Commissary, Medical Center and Installations
Warehouse, Building 42B (where the existing 4,000 litre tank will be replaced with a 16,000 litre capacity).
The Planning Officer confirmed that several other indeterminate blotches of yellow highlighter pen were indeed depiction of underground tanks for replacement. These are
on the US NSA HQ, Building 29; on the Commissary; in the Orchid reserve and on the ramp at the entrance to the N side of the MoD Police Post.
These are not the only fuel storage tanks at Menwith Hill.
On one of the Site Plans is the statement: "…there are no records of existing tank installation."
Concern has been expressed that there is a history of major fuel leaks from Menwith Hill and the adjoining HMS Forest Moor Base, which contaminated Swinsty Reservoir.
It is feared that these plans present a serious risk to the water supplies for Leeds, Otley and parts of the Harrogate District (for which the Harrogate Borough Council
is the responsible local authority). Menwith Hill Station lies on the catchment ground for surface and underground water running into Swinsty Reservoir via a tributary of
Spinksburn Beck.
Over the Christmas and New Year period 1991/92, 5,000 litres of 'Red Gas Oil' contaminated Spinksburn Beck and entered Swinsty Reservoir. Leeds and Otley residents were
supplied from another reservoir during the three weeks' clean up. (q.v. Environment Agency correspondence).
In early 1992 a US Inspection Team arrived unannounced at Menwith Hill, in order to carry out investigation of the environment. Their conclusions, particularly in
relation to inadequate storage and disposal of chloro-fluoro-carbons, were published in the 'Environmental Compliance Survey 1992'
. They stated that environmental practices at Menwith Hill were 'fair to poor' and made recommendations for establishing a better regime.
During the period that the environmental Inspection Team was at Menwith Hill, all Departments therein were required to report on their use of and storage facilities for
hazardous chemicals. We discovered an original hand-written memo from the US NSA's Darnell Lynn (Chief of Transport, in overall charge of the base Motor Pool) addressed
to the US NSA's Robert J (Bob) Coffman, Director of Installations and Logistics. The memo enquired whether the Menwith Hill authorities should admit to 'the 13,000
litres of diesel oil inaccessible underground'.
Evidently, this was not admitted as there was no reference to it in the 'Environmental Compliance Survey 1992
'.
Further to the discovery of the memo, we wrote two letters of enquiry to Roderick Bolt, former Ministry of Defence Land Agent, based at Catterick Garrison, N Yorks. His
denials that there was any diesel oil 'lost' underground suggests that he was ignorant of the facts.
There was an oil spillage, of unspecified volume, at Menwith Hill in 1992 - 93, which entered Spinksburn Beck. Booms placed across the beck are said to have contained the
spill and prevented the oil entering the reservoir. Menwith Hill was charged under the 'Polluter Pays Principle'.
In response to concerns expressed by people in the locality, about the safety of their water supplies, which would be affected by chemical spillage at Menwith Hill, the
Menwith Hill Forum (on which WoMenwith Hill Women's Peace Camp[aign] is represented) is pursuing enquiries. In addition to my evidence, as stated in the previous
paragraphs, responses have been received from the Environment Agency and West Berkshire County Council (responsible for the clean up at Greenham Common, formerly occupied
by the US Airforce). The Menwith Hill Forum does not meet again until January 10th 2003, which date is outside the consultation period for representations to be made in
response to this NoPD. We therefore take the liberty of enclosing copies of the correspondence, because of the relevance and significance of its content.
We are concerned that this project will be allowed to proceed without proper Environmental Impact Assessment. In this case there are vitally important material
considerations, such as public safety and protection of habitat, which are properly the remit of the Harrogate Borough Council. Some of us are directly affected. If a
Planning Officer determines this matter under delegated legislation and "…offers no objections…" this would constitute a breach of determination of
our civil rights. Under the legislation of the Human Rights' Act 1998, Article 6 (1):
"In the determination of his civil rights and obligations…everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing…by an independent and impartial tribunal…"
We call for recognition of our Human Rights by implementation of an Environmental Impact Assessment, which would comply with the European Directive, and a Public Inquiry
to which we could submit further evidence. Should our application be rejected, we shall pursue this matter further.
Yours sincerely,
Anne Lee. pp WoMenwith Hill women
Cc: Menwith Hill Forum
Yorkshire CND
Mr C J Duke, Defence Estates' Office
|
