Title: Doe Lea restoration study : the work of WRc
Author: National Rivers Authority Northumbria and Yorkshire Region
Document Type: Monograph
Abstract:
In the summer of 1991 following reports of milk contaminated with dioxins, sediment samples were collected from the River Doe Lea near Bolsover in north east Derbyshire. The Doe Lea is a tributary of the River Rother which joins the River Don to flow into the Humber Estuary. Normal background levels of dioxins were found in the streams draining the affected farms. However, the Doe Lea was found to be very highly contaminated with dioxins with levels in excess of five hundred times greater than those found elsewhere in England and Wales. In September 1994, a project was authorised by the National Rivers Authority to investigate, initiate, recommend and instigate future action by the NRA on dioxin contamination within the Doe Lea sediments. This project was called "The Doe Lea Restoration Study". The prime purposes of the Project were to investigate ways of cleaning up the dioxin pollution within the Doe Lea and, if viable, carry out the clean up of a short section of river. The study incorporated the investigation of legal action against the polluter under Section 161 of the Water Resources Act 1991. The main purpose for the production of this report is to act as a guidance document for future NRA or Environmental Agency action in the event of a major pollution incident which requires remedial action and/or complex legal case to be prepared to establish responsibility and recovery of costs. The secondary purpose for the production of this report is to review and assess the NRA's performance in dealing with the dioxin contamination discovered in the River Doe Lea in 1991.
Publisher: National Rivers Authority
Publication Date: 1995
Publication Place: Leeds
Subject Keywords: Sediment sampling; Contamination; Dioxins; Water pollution; River rehabilitation
Geographic Keywords: Don and Rother catchment
Extent: 55
Permalink: http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:2131
Total file downloads: 268
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