Latest news with #fuelstorage
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Environmental fears over planned Charvil oil site
A planned distribution site for diesel and heating oil on the edge of a country park has been branded an "environmental disaster" waiting to Fuels has made an application to store and distribute fuel from a former MOT testing station on Old Bath Road in Charvil, said they feared leakages from the site could devastate local fishing lakes and the River Loddon, a tributary of the nearby River company director Matt Greensmith said there were "multiple fail safes" to stop oil entering local water courses. Speedy Fuels began using the site late last year, but was told its operation was not covered by existing planning firm was ordered to shut it down and then made a fresh application. Andy Church, the fishery manger for Charvil Fishing Society, said he was worried fuel could end up entering the lake as a result of worsening floods."There's a huge risk of flooding into the site and the resultant environmental disaster that could happen," he said."If there was to be a spill or a leak it could be catastrophe for the lake, for the stock, for our fishing society and for the country park as a whole."Parish councillor for Charvil, Lee Cripps, agreed, saying that during the winter, the lake levels were so high the site was "an island surrounded by water". But Mr Greensmith said all container tanks were bunded and checked regularly."It can't go wrong," he said."I get it - people think an oil company is a dirty company... but I don't believe our neighbours will know we're there."He said an expert assessment had found there was "no flood risk" to the site. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
ABC News
29-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
NT government rejects call for federal intervention in Project Caymus US military fuel tank facility
The Northern Territory government has rejected a call for federal regulatory intervention at a beleaguered US military fuel storage facility. The ABC revealed this week that 11 massive tanks on Darwin Harbour were not built to withstand a category three cyclone. Sitting on NT government land, the fuel tanks were also constructed unlawfully without US owner-operator Crowley obtaining a building permit. Dubbed Project Caymus, the facility was announced in 2021 and was meant to be operational in 2023. However, the tanks have never held fuel, in part because water is intruding into their base. An engineering report found if the tanks failed during a cyclone, while operational, up to 200 million litres of flammable and/or combustible liquid could be released. The scenario would have "catastrophic consequences" for people, property and the environment, the report said. Considering the risks referenced in the report, the Environment Centre Northern Territory (ECNT) has called on the Commonwealth to intervene under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act. "There is an ability, for when there is a significant new event or variation of this nature, for a new environmental impact assessment to be called for," Kirsty Howey, the ECNT's executive director, said. "That should happen immediately and the proponent, the US Department of Defense and its contractors, should want to undertake that process as well so that this project gets some kind of social license." Dr Howey said an environmental impact assessment (EIS) was not undertaken before approval was granted by the NT government. According the NT Environment Protection Authority, it only conducts an EIS if "the proposal has the potential to have a significant impact on the environment". "A lot of these problems could have been avoided had [an environmental impact assessment] occurred from the get-go," she said. Dr Howey also said cyclone risk was not assessed before environmental approval was granted. The NT Minister for Lands Planning and Environment, Josh Burgoyne, dismissed the calls for federal intervention. "This [NT] government has no intention of revoking the project's environmental approval and there is no evidence that any offence under NT environmental laws has occurred, given the tanks remain empty and the use of the facility has not commenced. "The department has been working with Crowley to ensure they provide independent evidence that the tanks meet safety, construction, and environmental standards." An NT Department of Lands, Planning and Environment spokesperson said an [EIS] was not required for Project Caymus because "the proposal met the threshold for assessment by the 'referral information' method". "Consistent with the requirements of the [NT] Environment Protection Act 2019," they said. "The NT Environment Protection Authority found that the proposal had the potential to have a significant impact on the environment and made its decision about method of assessment as required under the Act and Regulations." In March, the NT government passed legislation giving a bureaucrat the powers to override dozens of laws to fast-track projects of "economic significance". Under the legislation, the territory coordinator can override regulation associated with the NT Building Act and Environment Protection Act. Asked whether the territory coordinator could remove regulation requirements at Project Caymus to help get the facility operational, NT Attorney-General Marie Clare Boothby said: "That is something he may want to look at." Territory coordinator Stuart Knowles said: "There has been no engagement with the territory coordinator in relation to Project Caymus." The US Department of Defense was contacted for comment and referred the ABC to the Australian government. The Australian Department of Defence did not respond to the ABC's questions by deadline.
ABC News
27-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Project Caymus fuel tanks built unlawfully in Darwin for US military not designed to withstand major cyclone
Eleven massive fuel tanks built for the US military to contain 300 million litres of flammable and combustible liquid on Darwin Harbour are not designed to withstand a category three cyclone. The findings are contained in an engineering report and can be revealed after the ABC reported the tanks were constructed unlawfully, without a building permit. Touted in 2021 as a "pivotal project" for US defence operations based out of Australia's north, the $270 million Project Caymus fuel storage facility was meant to be operational by September 2023. The tanks have never held fuel though, in part because water is intruding into their base. US company Crowley owns the facility, having won a US government tender to build it on Northern Territory government land. Two subcontractors which consecutively held the role of lead builder — Australia-based Saunders International and US-based Latitude 63 — have both had its contracts terminated by Crowley. The engineering report, obtained by the ABC, was completed in December 2023 by the project's building certifier at the time, Darwin firm Acer Forester. It was commissioned by Latitude 63 and based on advice from the principal structural engineer at Adelaide-based company Fyfe. The report includes an assessment of the "importance level" for the tanks, as per the National Construction Code (NCC). An importance level is designated for all structures in Australia and is based on the consequences of a structure failing during a natural disaster such as a cyclone. The report shows the tanks on Darwin Harbour should be classed at importance level four, the highest classification, for structures "containing hazardous materials capable of causing hazardous conditions that extend beyond property boundaries". Instead, the tanks were initially designed at importance level two, the classification for a car garage, shed or suburban backyard workshop. And before construction began, the plans were altered to reduce the tanks' wind durability below importance level one. "[Crowley] specified that the tanks be designed at a design wind speed of [249.5 kilometres per hour]," the advice from Fyfe said. "However, the tank[s] were designed to a [193.5 kilometres per hour] design wind speed. "This error was embedded within the Saunders International computer calculations, where it would have been difficult for [Crowley] to discover." According to the Bureau of Meteorology, gusts during a category three cyclone can reach up to 224 kilometres per hour. In 1974, Severe Tropical Cyclone Tracy destroyed Darwin with wind gusts reaching 217 kilometres per hour before wind-recording instruments failed. A cyclone has not hit Darwin since construction began on the Project Caymus fuel tanks. The report also noted that an April 2023 document prepared by Saunders that "certifies" the design of the tanks was "not acceptable". Saunders International did not respond to specific questions from the ABC about issues raised in the report. Instead, it provided a statement saying: "Saunders left the site in April 2023, having completed construction contract requirements in full compliance with relevant codes, practices and permits." "The tanks were constructed to the specifications provided by the owner and their appointed engineer," the statement said. "We refer you to Crowley, the owner and operator, for any further inquiries." In the report, Fyfe also advised of the dangers associated with the tanks' inadequate design. "Failure of the tanks in a cyclonic wind event could result in over 200 million litres of flammable and/or combustible liquid becoming uncontained," the report said. "[This would cause] hazardous conditions beyond the property boundaries and to significant population areas and strategic facilities. "[It would] have catastrophic consequences on people, property and the environment." In its findings, Acer Forester said the lives of Darwin residents would be at risk if the tanks failed during a cyclone while operational. "The impact on the public (including environmental damage) would be at least substantial, if not extreme." In a statement, Latitude 63 said it presented the report to Crowley, which subsequently "removed Acer Forester from the project". Latitude 63 said Crowley also amended their contract "to remove responsibility for project certification". Latitude 63 said it continued to "fulfil its remaining obligations within the revised scope of work", but was ultimately also removed from Project Caymus by Crowley. Crowley said it was "continuing to work closely with the Northern Territory government to ensure the … facility is constructed in compliance with all relevant safety, construction and environmental standards". "Throughout the design and construction process, Crowley has confirmed that all required approvals will be obtained from the Northern Territory government and other relevant authorities prior to the start of operations," its statement said. The NT Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment said it was "working with Crowley for it to provide independent verification of the required safety, construction, and environmental standards and considerations". "This independent evidence is necessary to determine that the tanks meet Australian standards that will ensure the project can be completed and operated," the department said in a statement. The NT government has never taken action against Crowley for starting and continuing construction at Project Caymus without a building permit.
