This article is from page 14 of the 2006-03-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has told Clare County Council that the issue of odour management at its Inagh landfill “is of serious concern to the agency.”
The statement from the agency follows a plea to them from a young mother living in close proximity to the landfill, who said she was ‘praying’ that they could do something to address the odours from the landfill.
In a letter to EPA inspector, Dr Michael Henry, Edel Harvey of Carrowkeel West, Inagh said on Saturday, January 21, “we were stunk out of it all morning.
“This is a situation that we just cannot tolerate any longer. Something has to be done immediately. I have to protect the lives and health of my family.
“I am hoping and praying that you could do something, anything to allay this terrible disgusting situation that we find ourselves in.”
Since Ms Harvey contacted the EPA, the agency has held an on-site meeting and an inspection of the facility with both visits dominated by the odour issue.
Arising from the EPA’s most recent site inspection, the agency stated by letter to the council that “whilst no significant odours from the facility were detected during the off-site odour assessment, significant odours were detected on-site and these were predominantly of a landfill gas nature.”
The EPA opted not to issue the council with a notification of noncompliance.
However, it stated that “it is essential that additional measures are taken to ensure compliance with the conditions of the license with respect to odour management.”
Last month’s inspection followed an on-site meeting between the council and the EPA at the end of January.
Commenting on the situation, the Council’s Director for the Environment, Ger Dollard said: “I am satisfied that the facility is being run to the highest standards.
“We are continuously trying new approaches to resolve whatever issues are brought to our notice and this practice will continue.
“I think the high level of resources being applied to dealing with issues results in a constant focus on operating all activities to the highest standard. At the end of the day it is a landfill and there has to be an acceptance that it is there and that a landfill by its nature does have an impact.
“I believe that such impact has been minimal arising from the extent of resources applied by the council to the ongoing operation of the facility”.