THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed that it will hold an oral hearing into concerns raised over plans by Irish Cement to burn waste at its production factory in Castlemungret.
by David Raleigh and Alan Jacques
news@limerickpost.ie
More than 4,000 valid submissions were received by individuals or groups who objected to the EPA granting the company a proposed licence to burn up to a maximum of 90,000 tonnes of waste a year, provided it was non-hazardous, and met over 100 strict conditions.
The EPA Board said the oral hearing, which will be chaired by Senior Inspector Patrick Byrne, was “merited, given the scale, sensitivity, of the local environment and the importance of the proposed development both national and regionally”.
“The hearing is open to members of the public and those who have not submitted an objection but wish to participate in the proceedings can do so with the approval of the chairperson. Any such request can only be made to the chairperson during the oral hearing.
“On completion of the oral hearing, the chairperson will submit a report to the Board with a recommendation to grant, potentially with amended conditions, or refuse the licence. The Board must consider the report and the recommendations before making its final decision.”
Those objecting to Irish Cement’s plans, say they are concerned the waste to be burned off in the proposed manufacturing process could be toxic to human health – a charge refuted by Irish Cement.
Last October, thousands of people marched in Limerick city in protest at the proposed €10million development, which would see Irish Cement replace fossil fuels with alternative fuels.
Some of the alternative fuels listed include animal faeces and used tyres.
Responding to the concerns raised last October, a spokesman for Irish Cement said: “Using alternative fuels is safe and has been standard practice in cement factories throughout Europe for 30 years.”
The company also claimed that the use of alternative fuels instead of fossil fuels in Mungret will directly reduce CO2 emissions by up to 40,000 tonnes per year, the equivalent to taking over 12,000 cars off the road.
Irish Cement Communications Manager Brian Gilmore said the proposed development directly supports 105 full time jobs.
Welcoming the EPA decision to hold the oral hearing, Limerick Fine Gael TD Kieran O’Donnell requested that it be held at the South Court Hotel in Raheen to facilitate local residents affected by the decision.
“The hearing will facilitate putting forward these serious concerns in a public forum and I would encourage as many as possible to attend and participate”, he added.
