EXPERTS are continuing to assess the impact on the environment of the gas release at TOTAL’s Elgin platform, 140 miles east of Aberdeen in the North Sea.
Marine Scotland is chairing a newly-established Environment Group, which is assessing and monitoring all available data on the environmental impact of the gas leak. The Group met for the first time yesterday and includes wide-ranging government and environmental representation.
Scottish Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “I welcome that a new Environment Group is now established, chaired by Marine Scotland, which is considering all available data on the environmental impact of this incident. Marine Scotland will carry out collection and analysis of environmental samples in the coming days, and Marine Research Vessel Alba na Mara will begin this work tomorrow.
“I have consistently highlighted the need for openness and transparency and am therefore extremely pleased that TOTAL have made all information on surveillance flights and sampling analysis publicly available on their website.
“The environmental risk continues to be assessed as minimal at this stage. However the Scottish Government remains vigilant and we are carefully monitoring the situation and any developments. I continue to be kept fully updated and we are in regular contact with both TOTAL and the UK Government.”
