Amid recent incidents, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is today (August 23) denying another chemical spill has taken place at the Rio Cobre in St Catherine. 

NEPA, in a statement this afternoon, noted receiving a “widely circulated video report” of a pollution incident at Zephyrton, close to the Linstead area of the river in St Catherine. 

The agency indicated it dispatched a pollution response team, which assessed sections of the river from “as far north as the Pleasant Farm to Byndloss areas”, descending as far south as the catchment area at Dam Head. 

“Based on the findings of the investigations, NEPA has found no evidence of a pollution incident or any negative impact on the waterbody of the Rio Cobre,” the entity disclosed.

While not attempting to dismiss the concerns of residents, NEPA suggested, after visiting the suspected site of the video recording, that residual ‘wash down’ from previous caustic impacts may have contributed to renewed alarm. 

See statement in full below: 

“This morning at approximately 8:00 am, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) received a video report that was being widely circulated of an alleged pollution incident along the Rio Cobre River at Zephyrton, close to the Linstead area in St Catherine.

The agency’s pollution response team was immediately mobilised and assigned to investigate the veracity, or otherwise, of the report. The response team’s investigations and assessments spanned as far north as the Pleasant Farm to Byndloss areas, and as far south terminating at Dam Head.

Based on the findings of the investigations, NEPA has found no evidence of a pollution incident or any negative impact on the waterbody of the Rio Cobre.

The response team has identified the area where the video was allegedly recorded.

This area displayed signs of impact, which is attributed to ‘wash down’ of residue from contaminated gullies from a previous spill/pollution incident.”