Tag: ExxonMobil

Clowndoctors are back in Fife!

The Clowndoctors are back in Fife supporting families of local charity Nourish Support Centre thanks to funding from ExxonMobil

Hearts & Minds and Nourish Support Centre are pleased to announce they are working together again to support Fife families thanks to help towards funding from ExxonMobil at Mossmorran. 

In June ExxonMobil workers selected Hearts & Minds as one of their charities to support in 2021 due to their ambition to support families facing adversity by bringing them joy, laughter and creative engagement through the Clowndoctors Programme.

In Summer 2020 during the first lockdown the Clowndoctors delivered virtual visits to Nourish families direct to their homes. Hearts and Minds wanted to develop their work further with Fife charity Nourish and help support their families with monthly Clowndoctor sessions. The generous funding from ExxonMobil workers of £5000 will help part fund these much-needed visits over the next twelve months.

Nourish and Hearts & Minds are a perfect partnership sharing the same ideals and values with empathy and kindness at the heart of everything they do.

Both organisations believe that meaningful human connection is vital for wellbeing, and that this is especially important when we are at our most vulnerable. Through the art of therapeutic clowning Hearts & Minds Clowndoctors connect to people’s humanity and transform experiences of adversity and create a safe space for families so they can relax and unwind and enjoy time together.

“Clowndoctors were amazing, Kacy giggled so much all the way through. It’s such a great experience and they do a fab job. We can’t thank Hearts & Minds, the clowndoctors and Nourish enough for the experience for Kacy, she just loves them.” – Parent

Nourish Support Centre was founded in 2011 by five parents who felt there was a lack of support for families who had children with additional support needs in the Kirkcaldy area. A lot of the children and families that access Nourish have met the Clowndoctors before at hospital or at respite care at hospices and are excited to see them again but this time with their siblings and families. 

Louise Russell from ExxonMobil commented: “We were delighted that safe working practices during our recent plant improvement project enabled us to raise this money for Hearts & Minds, which was nominated by one of our workers.

“These visits will help bring happiness to many local youngsters and their families at a time when it is much needed.”

Rebecca Simpson, CEO, Hearts & Minds said: “We are delighted to be able to support Nourish and their families with a brand-new programme of monthly visits kindly funded by Exxon Mobil.

“These visits will deliver much needed laughter, creativity and imagination to children who are vulnerable especially in current times.”

Lynne Scott of Nourish said: “The smiles and laughter that the Clowndoctors bring to the children who use our services is just amazing, and its not just the young people who benefit, the whole family gain some quality time together having some fun time away from the day to day challenges they face.“

SEPA continues to monitor ExxonMobil flaring

SEPA’s latest statement on unplanned flaring was issued at 8.30pm last night:

Having received reports of elevated flaring at the ExxonMobil Chemical Fife Ethylene Plant shortly after 3:30pm on Sunday, SEPA officers have remained in contact with the site across the day.

SEPA’s four remote monitoring points around the site, at Lochgelly, Auchtertool, Donibristle and Little Raith continue to capture data and  environment protection officers have deployed to record community impacts at five locations surrounding the site. 

Whilst monitors continue to demonstrate no breach of air quality standards*, officers continue to note noise, light and vibration impacting local communities.  

With no firm indication as yet from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited of the cause of the flaring other than ‘a trip on one of our machines’, or further information on expected duration, specialist officers remain deployed this evening gathering information, data and evidence.

We do so to determine whether there has been a breach of permit conditions and what our next steps should be in line with our published Enforcement Policy.  We will provide updates as soon as further information becomes available.

Updates will be available on social media and sepa.org.uk/mossmorran

We urge the public to report community impacts at SEPA.org.uk/report

Mossmorran: ‘Action, not words’

‘Unplanned flaring’ during ExxonMobil’s Mossmorran restart is a reminder of why short and medium term solution are critical, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said yesterday.

SEPA advised that early indications suggested that the near four hours of flaring was a result of a problem with one of the process units and reduced capacity of ground flares.  The agency understands the restart is likely to continue into the weekend and SEPA advised it will continue daily regulatory updates.

The agency, which had regulatory, noise and air monitoring capabilities deployed across the incident, said it heard clearly the level of community anxiety caused by Thursday night’s flaring event.

Initial data collected by the agency suggests no breach of UK Air Quality Standard.  28 SEPA Air Quality Reports, including weekly reports, available at sepa.org.uk/mossmorran

SEPA said it was focused on the rapid conclusion of its ongoing regulatory investigation to an evidential standard and that to avoid any delay, Thursday night’s flaring would be reviewed following outcome of current investigation.

The agency advised that the situation was a reminder of why short and medium term solutions are so critical.  The approach includes noise reducing flare tips being installed in 2020 and 2021 and planning, design then delivery of new ground flare capacity afterwards.

Chris Dailly, SEPA’s Head of Environmental Performance (above), said:  “Thursday’s unplanned flaring during ExxonMobil Chemical’s restart at Mossmorran is a real reminder of why short and medium term solutions are critical to addressing the root causes of unacceptable flaring.

“While elevated flaring is a possibility during restart it was not expected last night.  Once again we heard clearly and powerfully the very real concerns and frustrations of local communities.

“We think it’s important to be clear on the causes of the flaring in the final stage of this restart.  We know people also want information on our monitoring.  Since last year SEPA has had monitoring points around the site.

“Initial data suggests that whilst clearly there was elevated flaring, there was no breach of UK Air Quality Standard.  We publish the data we collect on a weekly basis and now some 28 detailed reports are available.

“We accept that flaring is causing people worry, anxiety and stress.  That’s why our firm focus is on addressing the root-causes of ‘unacceptable flaring’ and making flaring an exception rather than routine, which is currently not the case.

“The short and medium-term investment we’re requiring the operators to make, from noise reducing flare tips in 2020 and 2021 and planning, designing then delivering new ground flare capacity will make a real difference to local communities.

“We appreciate communities want action, not words which is why we’re focused on rapid conclusion of regulatory investigation to an evidential standard and to the next steps in driving systemic change at Mossmorran.  

“We’ll provide more information as quickly as possible and would encourage anyone impacted to report any concerns at www.sepa.org.uk/report so these are formally reviewed and considered by specialist officers.“

Mossmorran: regulator demands speedier improvements

  •  ExxonMobil Chemical Limited and Shell U.K. Limited are not currently using all Best Available Techniques for flaring.
  • ExxonMobil Chemical Limited proposed timescales to increase capacity and accessibility to ground flares unacceptable.
  • Shell U.K. Limited has not sufficiently demonstrated that proposed principles, approach and level of upgrade to the plant would achieve BAT and are therefore unacceptable.
  • SEPA will move within seven days to vary operating permits to include required timescales for the implementation of BAT, and the provision of further detail required.
  • SEPA’s complex regulatory investigation to an evidential standard involving specialist technical, regulatory and enforcement officers will conclude by end November 2019, subject to no new lines of enquiry being uncovered during this phase.
  • SEPA confirmed on Thursday that it will fully investigate the current incident.

Continue reading Mossmorran: regulator demands speedier improvements

SEPA investigates Mossmorran flaring

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is investigating the ongoing flaring from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited at the Mossmorran petrochemical plant in Fife following hundreds of complaints.

Continue reading SEPA investigates Mossmorran flaring