Press Release - 19-10-05
CHASE Furious At EPA Willingness To Gamble The Health Of The People Of Cork
CHASE SEEKS MORATORIUM ON MASS INCINERATION

Research by the Environmental Protection Agency has found that while dioxin levels are decreasing nationally, dioxon levels have doubled in the Ringaskiddy area in the last four years.

"CHASE is furious with the EPA’S cavalier attitude toward the health of the people of Cork. This report has been with the EPA since 2004. Yet, knowing this, the EPA granted a draft waste licience to Indaver Ireland for two mass burn incinerator . We know from evidence admitted by Indaver’s own expert at the EPA Oral Hearing that these two incinerators will burn waste 24/7 and will increase the dioxin levels in the Cork area." said a CHASE spokesperson.

CHASE insist on a moratorium on proposals by the Irish Government to introduce mass incineration as a form of waste management until proper baseline health studies have been carried out on populations at risk. Dioxins are released into the atmosphere unintentionally as a result of incomplete combustion processes; known sources of dioxin include incinerators and steel production.

There are already seven incinerators operating in the Harbour under licience. While Irish Ispat is now closed, we will never know the impact the plant had on the health of the community.

The people of Cork cannot be expected to tolerate any further increase in dioxin levels and it is not acceptable that the EPA issue liciences to industries that will add to the dioxin burden.

--- ENDS ----

For further information:

Mary Hurley, CHASE PRO, 021 4813070 086 8162448
Mary O’Leary, CHASE Chairperson, 021 4811952 086 8177737