Irish Times 02-03-05
Hearing begins into waste licence

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to begin oral hearings today on an application for a waste licence for a municipal incinerator at Carranstown, Co Meath. The proposed incinerator, which is a byelection issue in the east of the county, has already received planning approval, but will also need a waste licence if it is to operate.

EPA staff will hear submissions and expert opinion on the environmental and health impact of emissions from the proposed plant from both the developers, Indaver, and groups opposing the development.

The hearing, which is being held in the Boyne Valley Hotel outside Drogheda, Co Louth, is expected to last three weeks.

Plans for the incinerator were first announced four years ago. It received approval by An Bord Pleanála two years ago against the advice of the board's inspector.

In December a High Court challenge by opponents failed. This has been appealed to the Supreme Court.

The €80 million development is the first proposed municipal incinerator in Ireland and, if fully licensed, will take up to 150,000 tonnes of non-hazardous waste a year. This is the equivalent of a large landfill.

Locals are opposed to the plant on the basis of emissions of cancer-causing compounds from the incineration process, and of the more than 1,000 truck movements a week to and from the plant.

The company has countered that the levels are well within European safety limits and pose no health risks whatsoever.

Indaver is also the company behind the proposed hazardous waste incinerator at Ringaskiddy, Co Cork. This has also received planning approval and was the subject of a three-week oral hearing by the EPA over a proposed waste licence which ended last week.

The Green Party is attempting to make the proposed incinerator a major issue in the east of Meath during the last week of the byelection campaign. Both Green Party leader Trevor Sargent and chairman John Gormley are to attend the hearing today.
Liam Reid
© The Irish Times