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Noia Court Dismisses Criminal Case Over Galicia Pellet Spill

The ruling cites official findings of wave-driven loss with no significant environmental damage, with the option to appeal.

Overview

  • A Noia investigating magistrate ordered the definitive dismissal of the criminal probe into the December 2023 spill linked to the cargo ship Toconao.
  • An official Guardia Civil report concluded six containers went overboard after a wave strike, with loading and operational protocols followed by the operator and crew.
  • Court-cited expert analyses, including a pericial report and CETIM laboratory tests, found the recovered pellets non-hazardous and without toxic concentrations.
  • Reports from the Xunta and the State Prosecutor’s Environmental Unit indicated no damage to dune ecosystems, biodiversity, or the Atlantic Islands national park from the small amounts found.
  • The order is not final and can be appealed to the Audiencia Provincial de A Coruña, with any potential accountability left to administrative avenues.