Scotland’s environmental regulator is emphasising the financial consequences of neglecting equipment maintenance, following a £600 civil penalty imposed on an Annan farm partnership for inadequate slurry storage management.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) issued the Fixed Monetary Penalty (FMP) after the partnership failed to comply with a General Binding Rule aimed at protecting the water environment from spills.

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Proper management of slurry storage systems is crucial to maintaining the freeboard—the distance from the top of the store to the slurry level—to minimise the risk of overflowing. For earth banked lined lagoons, the freeboard requirement is 750mm. However, during inspections in early 2024, SEPA discovered that two of the farm’s slurry lagoons were full and the freeboard levels were not being properly managed.

Stephen Field SEPA’s national rural unit manager stressed the importance of maintaining appropriate freeboard levels to prevent pollution. He highlighted that slurry, while a valuable nutrient source, can pollute both surface and groundwater if mishandled.

SEPA issues FMPs for specific offences where environmental harm is minimal or non-existent. These penalties, alongside various enforcement tools, aim to ensure compliance and protect Scotland’s environment.

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