OREANDA-NEWS. June 10, 2009. Water quality in Rivers of Rokishkis and Birzhai Districts, where environmental accidents occurred in March and May, is within the established limits. This is confirmed by the results of tests made by the State Analytical Control Division of Panevezhys Regional Environmental Protection Department, Joint Research Center of Vilnius Environmental Protection Agency, and AB Mazeikiш Nafta Environmental Laboratory.

In March, unidentified persons tapped to the petroleum transportation pipeline near Juodupe village, Rokishkis District, and later, due to failure of the illegal hose, diesel fuel transported by the pipeline to Latvia leaked into the environment. AB Mazeikiu Nafta operates and services the pipeline section on the Lithuanian territory.

The emergency response team of AB Mazeikiu Nafta, the officers of the Fire Fighting and Rescue Department, the Civil Safety specialists, and the employees of Juodupe Neighborhood took necessary actions for combating the effects of the incident.

Some time later, in May, an attempt of illegal tapping to the product pipeline Ilukste-Ventspils was reported in Birzhai District. The illegal tapping took place on the bottom of the Apashchia River, near Totoriai village.

After arrival on the incident location, the emergency response team of AB Mazeikiu Nafta immediately stopped the diesel flow from the pipeline, deployed seven booms, which prevented the pollution from spreading down the river towards the village. As part of the spill combat activities, the specialists collected and disposed of the polluted water.

In May and June, the tests of water in the Рaltoji Creek, Rokishkis District, the Vyzhuona and Nemunelis Rivers, Birzhai District, were performed to identify the pollution level.  The test results showed that the water quality is within the set limits. “The organization of the combat activities was good. Currently water quality near Juodupл settlement is within the established limits,” – said Angele Planchiunaite, Deputy Director of Panevezhys Regional Environmental Protection Department.

The pollution combat action plan, developed by AB Mazeikiшu Nafta, provides for activities which will take place until October. Along with the soil cleanup, the booms, which prevented the water polluted with diesel fuel from further spreading, will be gradually removed.