Spanish

Oil Spill

Description of the Oil Spill

On April 25, 1998 a large toxic spill occurred in Los

Frailes (Aznalcllar), this occurred by a rupture of a

large tailings dam containing the effluents of a copper
and zinc mine which produces pyritic waste rock. This
dam was owned by Boliden APIRSA.
The contaminated sludge contained high
concentrations of arsenic, zinc, lead, copper, talium
and cadmium.

Groups affected
One environmental group called the incident "a

catastrophe of the highest order."

The regional chapter of the farmers' association Asaja
said that p to 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) of
farmland may have been affected by the spill. Seven
towns along the river warned citizens not to drink
from wells. Sheep and cattle owners were told to keep
livestock away from the river. Fishing was also
enormously affected. There were no casualties
reported.

Impact
When the toxic sludge reached Entremuros, the

inundation wave was only a few centimeters high. At that

time, the best solution would have been its containment by
emergency dikes, allowing for a limited dispersal of the
contaminated sediment that would have facilitated its
treatment.
The diversion of the toxic sludge to the Guadalquivir
estuary, where it could not be treated, has created an
additional hazard for the local tourism and fisheries. The
pollution of the estuary has added to the continuous
discharge of the Tinto-Odiel estuary, one of Europe's most
polluted areas.

Risks
During the 6 months that followed the accident, the toxic

sludge was mechanically removed. This operation lacked

an adequate assessment of the spill, proper co-ordination,
adequate equipment, safety measures to prevent the
intoxication of the workers, and the use of adequate
technology.
As a result, the removal was fairly chaotic, huge amounts
of contaminated aerosols were resuspended, groundwater
pollution was not properly controlled, the flow of
contaminated particles to the estuary continued several
weeks after the spill (bound to suspended solid matter) and
the watershed suffered major modifications (with broad
areas of exposed soil and the associated erosion).

Governing body in Jamaica

The National Environment and Planning Agency

(NEPA) was established in April 2001 as an Executive

Agency under the Executive Agencies Act. NEPA was
founded to carry out the technical (functional) and
administrative mandate of three statutory bodies "the
Natural Resources & Conservation, Authority (NRCA),
the Town & Country Planning Authority (TCPA), and
the Land Development & Utilisation Commission
(LDUC)".

NEPA Strategies to Control

Watershed Pollution

Proper Land Use

Cost effective Work
Incentives
Technical Assistance
Training of Watershed Management Professionals
Public Education
People's Participation
Monitoring
Research
Financing

Legislation
The Jamaican Government is still in the process of

completing the appropriate legislation. A new act is

needed which: incorporates new thinking and
approaches to watershed management; addresses
critical institutional and legal issues; and which
provides a solid legal basis for the conservation and
development of Jamaica's watershed resources into the
next century.
This new act will proper protect Jamaicas watershed
throughout the entire island.

NEPA Statutory Gain from

Watershed
allocation of a small percentage of the cost of major

construction projects taking place in watersheds such

as highways, reservoirs, dams and housing for slope
stabilization and watershed protection purposes;
collection of a small cess from export crops which are
grown on the slopes of watersheds for soil
conservation/land husbandry purposes;
collection of a small percentage of water utility bills to
protect watersheds.

References
http://www.nepa.gov.jm/new/legal_matters/laws/inde

x.php
Geen, A. van & Z. Chase, 1998. Recent Mine Spill Adds
to Contamination of Southern Spain. EOS,
Transactions, American Geophysical Union: 79, 449455.
http://www.csic.es/hispano/coto/aznalco.htm