§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will outline the measures taken to monitor the area surrounding the remains of the Piper Alpha platform for pollution; how long these measures will continue; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythImmediately following the incident on 6 July, aerial surveys to detect oil spillage were carried out by the Department of Transport marine pollution control unit. Although some spillage occurred, the total quantity was quite small—about 500 tonnes—and dispersed quickly with no major environmental impact.
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, in co-operation with the operators, Occidental Petroleum (Caledonian) Ltd., has been monitoring debris and other samples from the vicinity of the Piper Alpha site for other potential sources of contamination. A quantity of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and small amounts of radioactive isotopes were known to have been on the Piper Alpha platform before the incident. Efforts to locate these substances, or their original containers, have been inhibited by debris and the damaged state of the platform remains.
696WSmall traces of PCB contamination have been found in debris and sediment samples. Further samples are being taken at present to enable the extent of any release of PCBs to be assessed. So far no traces of radioactive contamination have been detected.
As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Energy, explained on 8 December, in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich (Mr. Bowden), the conditions attached to the approval of the abandonment programme for Piper Alpha include requirements for further surveys and monitoring of the site and for sediment sampling and examination, to be repeated at such times as the Secretary of State may subsequently direct. They also provide for any leakage of oil or gas to be sealed to his satisfaction and for steps to be taken to deal with any unacceptable levels of pollution.