A high-volume pump used during major flood events will be tested in Somerset next week (4 to 6 April 2017) as part of Exercise Wessex Flare – a 3-day training exercise run by the Environment Agency.

The 24-inch diameter steel and alloy diesel pump is capable of pumping 1,650 litres of water per second – the equivalent of filling 20 baths in a second. It will be loaded onto an 8-wheel lorry at its base in Bawdrip village, and transported to the remote North Drain pumping station several miles away.

A team of incident operatives and experienced pump specialists from across the country will then attach the 12-tonne pump to 40 metres of pipework over a period of at least 8 hours before setting it in motion.

Operations manager Robbie Williams said:

Flooding can have a devastating impact on people’s lives and homes. We care about our communities and want to do whatever we can to help prevent this type of incident. Using pumps to manage water levels and reduce the impact of flooding is one of the many ways we can do this, alongside temporary defence barriers.

Preparing and practising pump deployment helps to ensure we act more quickly and effectively. It’s also an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills so people can confidently operate this type of heavy machinery nationwide, with the help of the military and other groups.

The exercise builds on Exercise Wessex Teal where Wiltshire-based soldiers were trained to deploy temporary defence barriers. Some of those soldiers will be on hand to watch the pump in action and learn how it works. The Environment Agency’s new Incident Command Unit (ICU) will also be on-site streaming live images of the exercise back to the Agency’s Bridgwater incident room.

The ICU serves as a mobile incident room and temporary headquarters for staff out in the field, enabling better site management, situational awareness and visibility in flood risk communities.

It is important everybody is aware of their own flood risk. People can find out how to get ready and check their flood risk on GOV.UK or calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188.

The nuclear regulators worked with Sciencewise to understand how the public want to be engaged and consulted about new nuclear power station designs.

The regulators have worked together to produce infographics about regulation of the nuclear industry.

These infographics are intended to help communities and the public living near nuclear sites learn more about their work.

These 12 scientific reviews provide the background for the Caribbean Marine Climate Change Report Card 2017, one of the Commonwealth Marine Economies Programme’s specific outputs from its first year. The Caribbean Marine Climate Change Report Card 2017 is a regional evaluation of the impact of climate change on the marine environment in the Caribbean, which will provide vital evidence for further analysis of the resulting socio-economic issues.

The scientific reviews cover the following topics:

1. Physical Environment
2. Extremes
3. Sea Temperature
4. Ocean Acidification
5. Biodiversity
6. Coral
7. Mangroves
8. Fish and Shellfish
9. Society
10. Fisheries
11. Settlements and Infrastructure
12. Tourism

The views expressed in the review papers do not represent the Commonwealth Marine Economies Programme, individual partner organisations or the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

This report reviews the progress made from 2 April 2014 to 1 April 2017 towards achieving the objectives set out in the East Inshore and Offshore Marine Plans. It also reviews the progress made against the high level marine objectives set out in the overall UK Marine Policy Statement.

Marine planning is the approach to managing the seas around England introduced by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. There are 11 marine plan areas in the UK. Marine plans are intended to inform and guide marine users and regulators, managing the sustainable development of marine industries, such as wind farms and fishing, alongside the need to conserve and protect marine species and habitats. Marine plans contribute to the UK objective of having clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas.

The East Inshore and East Offshore Marine Plans were published in April 2014. The inshore area has a coastline that stretches from Flamborough Head in Yorkshire to Felixstowe town in Suffolk. The offshore area covers from 12 nautical miles out to maritime borders with the Netherlands, Belgium and France. They are monitored and reviewed every three years.

The Environment Agency consults the public on certain applications for the abstraction and impoundment of water.

These notices explain:

• what the application is about
• which Environment Agency offices you can visit to see the application documents on the public register
• when you need to comment by