MOD set to launch survey of disused oil pipelines in Cornwall
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is launching a survey of redundant underground pipelines around a military fuel depot in Cornwall.
Ongoing work to check land quality around the Thanckes Oil Fuel Depot, in Torpoint, has identified oil pipeline infrastructure dating from the 1920s, 1940s, and 1970s which are no longer used.
The redundant pipelines used to link the Depot to nearby Looking Glass Point and HMS Raleigh. Experts from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) are launching the work to update sparse historical records.
The Initial Survey work will allow the MOD to identify the exact location of the pipelines. Future phases of works will examine their condition and contents to ensure that the pipelines are in a decommissioned state in accordance with the MoD’s current environmental responsibilities.
DIO project manager Steve Bunce said:
“Some of the pipelines were rendered redundant in 1960 and historical records relating to the infrastructure’s decommissioning are very limited. We need to ensure that our records are up-to-date, so that we can assess the pipelines’ condition and suitably decommission the pipelines to meet our environmental responsibilities.”
Initially, surveyors will use non-intrusive techniques, similar to those used in television archaeology programmes, to identify the precise location and depth of the pipelines.
The MOD is engaging with all potential affected landowners notifying them of MOD's initial intentions and requesting access to the potential pipe routes. These notification works should be carried out by the early part of next year. Surveyors will contact directly any owners whose land or property they may need to access during the survey.
Anyone with questions on the planned survey work is welcome to contact Steve Bunce on 01264 381 742 or DIOPPD-South2f@mod.uk for further information.
ENDS
Further information:
Press enquiries to Tony Moran, Senior Communications Officer 0121 311 3879 or email tony.moran572@mod.uk
DIO website:www.gov.uk/dio
Twitter: @mod_dio
Read DIO’s blog: https://insidedio.blog.gov.uk/
Note for Editors
1. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) plays a vital role in supporting our Armed Forces by building, maintaining and servicing what the men and women who serve our country need to live, work, train and deploy on operations.
2. We are working hard to become even better by becoming a world-class infrastructure delivery organisation over the next few years. Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). It is responsible for managing and maintaining land and properties to meet the current and future needs of the MOD and personnel at home and abroad, and to support current operations.
3. Our work includes providing, supporting and improving: operational units; single living and service family accommodation; training areas and historic military sites. DIO actively manages these to ensure the needs of Defence are met, value for money is achieved; our heritage is protected and we achieve our environmental goals.
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