For this second piece, we wanted to share first-hand experiences from some of our colleagues who were directly involved. Their memories highlight the scale of the incident and how it continues to influence our work today.
In the early hours of Sunday 11 December 2005, a dense fog formed around the Buncefield fuel depot on the edge of Hemel Hempstead. A large petrol storage tank was overfilling, and vapours spread across and beyond the site.
As bathing water designation has expanded to reflect the places where people now swim, paddle and enjoy the water recreationally, more inland sites are being formally recognised.
Following our initial blog about the appalling large-scale illegal dumping of waste near Kidlington, we want to update you on the significant progress being made to protect the community and environment.
The Environment Agency published the 2025 Bathing Water Classifications earlier today, Tuesday 25 November.
Waste crime is completely unacceptable. We are working tirelessly with compliant businesses, operators and partners to protect our environment and communities from waste crime. We will always take decisive action to investigate and work with police to bring perpetrators to justice.
As the summer boating season has drawn to a close, it’s a moment to reflect on the challenges and achievements of the past summer. Drought conditions have tested our waterways and infrastructure - but they’ve also revealed resilience, innovation, and a shared commitment to protecting England’s canals and rivers.
We’ve just published our annual report about radioactivity in food and the environment. Our radiological monitoring and assessment specialists Becca Williams and Rob Dean share the headlines from our monitoring and assessment work and talk about how artificial radioactivity gets into the environment.
Mark Garratt is an Environment Agency flood director and has seen firsthand the devastating impacts flooding can have on homes and business. Here he tells you why you need to be prepared for flooding this winter and outlines some simple steps to keep you and your loved ones safe.
The Environment Agency welcomes the publication of the New Towns Taskforce report and the government's initial response. With economic growth as the government's number one mission, we are uniquely positioned to contribute to the next generation of New Towns through our statutory role to protect and enhance the environment while supporting sustainable development.
