EPA investigates cyanide spillage at Bogoso
Published by MAC on 2004-10-25EPA investigates cyanide spillage at Bogoso
Monday, 25 October 2004
Accra - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Monday that it is investigating repots of spillage of sodium cyanide solution into the Apepra Stream, near Dumasi, in the Wassa West District by Bogoso Gold Limited (BGL).
A statement issued in Accra by the Executive Director of EPA, said the source of the sodium cyanide discharge was traced to a newly constructed tailings storage facility.
The statement said the team conducted a survey along a four-kilometre stretch of the stream and found that 125 fishes had died. "A number of samples have been taken including surface water and sediments. The samples collected are currently being analysed. "The results of initial free cyanide assessments conducted indicated elevated concentration above EPA threshold values." EPA said it received information of the spillage on Saturday from its District at Tarkwa.
The statement said the EPA District Team in the company of the Minerals Commission District Officer; Acting General Manager of BGL and some embers of the Dumasi community visited the Apepra Stream.
"The investigation team immediately informed members of the Dumasi Community and its environs about the extent of the contamination. "The community members were requested subsequently not to use water from the stream for any purpose and also not to consume any fish, either live or dead, from the stream until otherwise notified."
EPA said it had, as a matter of urgency, directed the Company to provide adequate potable water to all affected communities downstream of the point of discharge.
It said remediation measures had been taken and the EPA had set up a 24-hour monitoring mechanism.
EPA said it would, as a matter of urgency, come out with the findings when investigations were complete.
The Ghana News Agency on Sunday reported that an unmeasured amount of solution containing cyanide from Bogoso Gold Limited (BGL) Tailings Dam spilled into Apepra Stream, a tributary of River Ankobra at Dumase, near Prestea in the Western Region on Saturday.
Consequently hundreds of dead fishes were found floating in the stream.
The cyanide solution spilled through a pipe laid from a new tailings storage facility at BGL Mine site into the external environment.
A source at the local Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office said a seepage sump was to be built at a point where the effluent from the tailing dam could be pumped back into the dam, thereby preventing the effluent from entering the external environment.
Unfortunately, the seepage stump had not been constructed for the new tailing dam when the discharge of the effluent started.
The cyanide solution, therefore, flowed through the pipe and first joined the Agyoo Stream, a tributary of Apepra, which served as source of drinking water for the Dumase community.
Mr Kwadwo Appiah, an Elder of the Town told the Ghana News Agency that on Saturday morning some dead fishes were found floating in the Apepra stream and this made them become suspicious that the stream had been contaminated.
Mr Appiah said a number of Opinion Leaders in the town including, Mr Prince Aidoo, Unit Committee Chairman, Mr Justice Oppong, Chief Farmer and Mr Odei Nkrumah, an Elder, went to Mr Neil Stevenson, Acting General Manager of BGL, at the Mine Site to inform him.
When the GNA contacted Mr Stevenson, he confirmed the spillage and said the Company would soon come out with a comprehensive report on the incident.