New pollution claims service

Crawford & Company UK has launched a new environmental pollution claims service (EPCS) in direct response to increasing environmental legislation. The service comprises three teams.

• The property team specialises in controlling general first party property oil spills. All claims and costs are controlled from a central specialist unit, with nationwide field coverage, working in tandem with an approved remediation contractor and environmental consultant..

• The major incident-technical services team covers a wide range of major industrial incidents involving spills, blow outs, vapour releases, ruptured pipelines, fires and explosions. The service also covers other complex areas of contamination such as; hydrocarbon and chemical spills, asbestos pollution, radioactive leaks and the clean-up work required afterwards.

• The liability team is available to manage third party issues and also handle all liability aspects in the aftermath of any pollution incident. The team will advise on current legislation and ensure clients are updated on any new legislation being introduced.

Benedict Burke, chief operating officer, UK & Ireland commented: “With the Environmental Liability Directive now in force, it is vital that all environmental pollution claims are handled according to best practice and comply with these new regulations.”

The Environmental Liability Directive came into force in April 2004 with all EU member states required to incorporate its provisions into national law by 30 April 2007. Described by the UK Environment Agency as ‘one of the most controversial and potentially far-reaching pieces of environmental legislation negotiated by the EU’, it is aimed at establishing a framework to prevent significant environmental damage or rectify such damage if it occurs. Controversially, significant damage includes damage to biodiversity, ie damage that has significant adverse effects on achieving or maintaining the conservation status of protected species and natural habitats.