CROSS BORDER ISSUES
CUESTIONES TRANSFRONTERIZAS
Co-operation : and contact continues between the ESG and Spanish Environmental NGOs . Long-term objectives shared include for a moratorium on industry and the need for an independent and rigorous cross border epidemiological study . Work is ongoing . Complaint : the ESG acts as a watchdog on regional environmental issues and continues to file detailed complaints to the EU on the transgressions of pollution spikes usually from the CEPSA Oil Refinery . In February 2017 we lodged another complaint of excessive flaring by this industry , which was investigated against a background of our long-term complaints , and information lodged with the EU since 2002 , with the assistance of Hassan ’ s International Law Firm . Western Beach : since April 2010 , Western Beach has seen appalling and illegal levels of sewage contamination from a storm drain diversion pipe in La Linea . The ESG has campaigned hard on this on several levels . The contamination continues after a brief interlude of improvement , especially during the non-bathing months - mid September to mid-April - when rainfall usually results in high levels of faecal contamination and E Coli . 9 years later and we still have this problem ! Major MoD housing development has recently been constructed to the east of the
beach , which may flag up issues of foul smells from the area over time . With the impending exit from the EU , we will no longer have MEPs to try and get EU support for attempting resolution of these cross-border environment and health problems . A serious worry indeed . Decline of Existing Spanish Environmental Protection Measures and Regulations . This situation is now producing grave concerns for our regional environment and must be challenged by Spain ’ s own environmental networks . Concerns include : - The dismantling of the Junta de Andalucía ’ s Consejeria de Medio Ambiente thereby weakening an already poor oversight of environmental management of the Bays chemical industries and other practices . - Expansion of petrochemical industry despite the Europe wide call for action on the Climate Change Crisis - Major infill and reclamation at Algeciras port for fuel storage and container storage in an already congested part of the bay – destroying ecosystems and removing important feeding areas for migratory marine life . - Multiple large urbanisation projects approved to be built along the protected and valued Costa de la Luz coastline .
44 OTWO 12 / JULY 2020