WAG halts power station over marine life fears

The Welsh Assembly government has halted moves to licence a new power station, after concerns were raised over the adequacy of the Environment Agency's environmental impact assessment (EIA).

The Welsh government intervened after the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) objected to the proposed licence for the operation of Pembroke Power Station, saying the gas station’s cooling system could harm wildlife in an internationally important marine conservation site.

The gas-fired power station, being developed by RWE npower, is being built alongside the Milford Haven estuary. It has a cooling system that will pump heated water into the Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation.

In its response to the Environment Agency’s consultation, the CCW warned that raising the temperature of the estuary would alter the natural processes on which the marine life in the area depended, threatening its survival.

Roger Thomas, CCW chief executive, said: “The Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation must be protected in line with the Welsh government's aspirations in terms of sustainability – not only to protect the important marine wildlife but also to safeguard the Haven for other interests, including local fisheries.”

The CCW’s worries echoed those of Friends of the Earth Cymru, which released a statement on 18 July calling on the Welsh Assembly to intervene in the power station plans.

“The Environment Agency's assessment of the power station's impact on the fragile Pembrokeshire coast is inadequate, incoherent and unlawful,” argued Peter Roderick, legal adviser to Friends of the Earth Cymru.

"It accepts that there will be more negative impacts on the Haven, but is trying to wriggle out of the legal consequences. If the agency grants this permit, it will be a stain on its reputation in Wales for many years to come.”

The Welsh Assembly government confirmed to the environmentalist that it had requested the consultation be halted until the Environment Agency could provide adequate answers to the questions raised by the CCW.

A spokesperson said: “The Welsh government has identified some matters on which it considers that clarification and further information should be provided by the Environment Agency and the CCW before the final decision on the permit application is taken.”