UK fines companies $1.5 million for emissions non-compliance

London (Platts)--7Dec2006

The UK's Environment Agency has for the first time penalized four
companies more than GBP750,000 ($1.5 million) for failing to account for their
carbon emissions in 2005, the first year of the European Union Emissions
Trading Scheme.
In a statement Wednesday, Environment Agency chief executive Barbara
Young said: "The Environment Agency has successfully invested a lot of time
and effort engaging with industrial operators to ensure a rigorous, consistent
and effective approach to regulating the EU ETS. As a result, more than 99% of
operators in England and Wales met their obligations during the first year of
the scheme and these companies should be commended.
"Unfortunately 4 companies out of 535 in England and Wales failed to
surrender sufficient EU emissions Allowances by the due date to cover their
carbon dioxide emissions. This is the cornerstone of the scheme. As such they
are liable to automatic civil penalties," she said.
The four companies have been issued with a combined total of
Euro1,127,840 in civil penalties.
Alphasteel, a steel recycling company from Newport in south Wales, was
issued a civil penalty of Euro839,120 for failing to surrender any allowances
for 2005 by the 30 April 2006 deadline.
Daniel Platt, a ceramic tile company from Stoke-on-Trent, was fined
Euro181,480 for failing to surrender any allowances to account for 4,537 mt of
verified emissions by the 30 April 2006 deadline, the EA said.
Mars UK -- trading as Masterfoods -- a foodstuffs company from
Peterborough, was fined Euro78,080 for failing to surrender allowances for
2005 by the deadline. Mars UK's verified emissions for 2005 were 1,952 mt,
according to the EA.
Scandstick, an adhesive products company in Cambridgeshire, was fined
Euro29,160 for failing to surrender sufficient allowances to account for 729
mt of verified emissions for 2005. Scandstick only surrendered 1,219
allowances but had verified emissions of 1,948 mt, the agency said.
Alphasteel was not immediately available for comment Wednesday.

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