The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), is continuing its investigation into a pollution incident in the eastern section of the Kingston Harbour on December 30 2010.

The pollutant appears to be amorphous carbon (soot) and was widely dispersed between Caribbean Cement Company and the Jamaica Flour Mills.  Samples of the pollutant were taken and the assistance of the Bureau of Standards Jamaica and Petrojam Ltd Laboratories was requested to help to determine the nature of the substance 

Two vessels docked in the vicinity were boarded and their Cargo Manifest reviewed to investigate possible association with the pollutant.  The Maritime Authority of Jamaica is also involved in the investigations. At the time of this release the source of the pollutant was not identified.

An Environmental Audit of the major land-based industrial enterprises on the rim of Kingston Harbour was completed in March 2010.  This information will be used by NEPA in the investigations to determine if the source of the pollutant is Iand-based.

NEPA is making a special appeal to members of the public who observed the discharge of any material into the Kingston Harbour on December 30 2010 to make a report by calling 1-888-991-5005, 754-7540 or 478-7957.