Jill Evans MEP is to hold an emergency meeting tomorrow (Wednesday, 11th April) with representatives of the Water Unit of the EU Commission’s Environment Department to discuss concerns that foot and mouth infected carcasses being buried on Epynt could pollute nearby rivers.

Ms Evans, who will be accompanied by Powys farmer Wil Workman and Carmarthenshire environmental campaigner Paddy Rooney, said,

"Strong fears have been expressed that rock faults on the Epynt site could allow infected liquids to leak into streams that feed larger rivers such as the Towy and Usk. Local concerns have already been expressed that such a possibility could have dire consequences for the Towy valley particularly, as it is one of the main milk producing areas in Wales. This meeting will be an opportunity to appraise the European Commission of the situation, and to ensure that what is happening on Epynt is not contravening European law."

"Whilst we are all worried about the risks of spreading the disease unnecessarily our meeting tomorrow will look mainly at the possible hazards to the environment and human health."

"The Environment Agency's original report on the Epynt site makes no references to the widely known geological fractures in the rock and the possibility of leaks occuring at the site. This is a situation that needs to be addressed before the accident waiting to happen occurs."

Ms Evans, who is Leader of Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales in the European Parliament and a member of the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment and Public Health, will be meeting Mrs A. Nielssen of the European Commission’s Water Unit at 3pm CET in Brussels.

DIWEDD/END.