The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), today, took legal action against the West Indies Alumina Company (WINDALCO) following the unauthorized release of improperly treated trade effluent on July 29, which resulted in a fish kill in the Rio Cobre River, St Catherine.

Court summons were issued to WINDALCO under Section 12 of the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) Act for the unlicensed release of untreated trade effluent, and under Section 11 of the Wild Life Protection Act (WLPA) for the release of a noxious substance into the environment. The matter is scheduled for mention in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrates Court on August 16, 2011.

Water and fish samples were taken from the river on Saturday, July 30 by NEPA’s Enforcement Officers. The analytical results of the water samples are available but as the matter is now in court the results will not be released at this time. Analysis of the fish tissue samples is still in process by the Veterinary Services Division.