Clare County Council Receives Non-Compliance Order From EPA

Clare County Council today confirmed that it has received a report of non-compliances from the EPA regarding odour issues at its Central Waste Management Facility at Ballyduffbeg, near Inagh in County Clare.

The report relates to out-of-hours odour surveys carried out by an EPA inspector, who was based in the vicinity of the landfill from 31 January to 4 February 2009. During this time, the inspector carried out a total of 54 odour inspections. He reported an odour, which he described as "moderate and impersistent" on 14 out of the 54 occasions. The EPA definition of a moderate odour is one that is ''easily detectable while walking and breathing normally, possibly offensive''. Clare County Council did detect odour off site through its own daily odour patrol on Tuesday 2 February; this incident was reported to the EPA.

Clare County Council carried out extensive capping works in 2007 and 2008, following new guidelines issued by the EPA to all landfill operators in mid 2007. The number of complaints received by the Council and by the EPA was reduced by 50% in 2008.

The EPA commented in their audit of the facility in November 2008 that “there has been considerable capping works carried out recently and a reduced number of odour complaints have been received by the licensee. The management and operation of the facility is well organised. With the housekeeping at the facility very good and the licensee has well established procedures and practices in place for the operation of the facility. The licensee has invested a significant amount of time and energy into controlling landfill gas emissions from the facility, however an odour was detected off site and the licensee need to ensure that odours do not give rise to nuisance at off site locations, completion of the capping works should reduce the potential for odour
nuisance off site”.

Clare County Council continues to operate the Central Waste Management facility in accordance with best practice in the industry, as recommended by the EPA. The Council is currently investigating the cause of these moderate, impersistent odours.

Clare County Council Receives Non-Compliance Order From EPA

Clare County Council today confirmed that it has received a report of non-compliances from the EPA regarding odour issues at its Central Waste Management Facility at Ballyduffbeg, near Inagh in County Clare.

The report relates to out-of-hours odour surveys carried out by an EPA inspector, who was based in the vicinity of the landfill from 31 January to 4 February 2009. During this time, the inspector carried out a total of 54 odour inspections. He reported an odour, which he described as "moderate and impersistent" on 14 out of the 54 occasions. The EPA definition of a moderate odour is one that is ''easily detectable while walking and breathing normally, possibly offensive''. Clare County Council did detect odour off site through its own daily odour patrol on Tuesday 2 February; this incident was reported to the EPA.

Clare County Council carried out extensive capping works in 2007 and 2008, following new guidelines issued by the EPA to all landfill operators in mid 2007. The number of complaints received by the Council and by the EPA was reduced by 50% in 2008.

The EPA commented in their audit of the facility in November 2008 that “there has been considerable capping works carried out recently and a reduced number of odour complaints have been received by the licensee. The management and operation of the facility is well organised. With the housekeeping at the facility very good and the licensee has well established procedures and practices in place for the operation of the facility. The licensee has invested a significant amount of time and energy into controlling landfill gas emissions from the facility, however an odour was detected off site and the licensee need to ensure that odours do not give rise to nuisance at off site locations, completion of the capping works should reduce the potential for odour
nuisance off site”.

Clare County Council continues to operate the Central Waste Management facility in accordance with best practice in the industry, as recommended by the EPA. The Council is currently investigating the cause of these moderate, impersistent odours.

Mercy Order And Department Discuss Seamount College Lease

Minister of State Tony Killeen has welcomed the news that the Trustees of Seamount College in Kinvara have agreed in principle to lease the school to the Department of Education and Science.

Minister Killeen explained that the move would help the Department to source a suitable site for the proposed new co-educational post primary school for up to 800 students in North Clare and South Galway. The North Clare T.D. said, “I am delighted that the Mercy Order has agreed in principle to the lease as I, along with my colleague Minister of State Noel Treacy, have long supported such a move.”

He continued, “Minister for Education, Batt O’Keeffe T.D. has confirmed that the Trustees of Seamount College have agreed in principle to lease the school to his Department subject to a number of conditions. The Minister has now instructed his officials to liaise with the Mercy Order as a matter of urgency with a view to drafting and executing the lease as soon as possible,” he added.

Minister Killeen noted that the Mercy Order’s decision to lease the school was a significant step forward in the development of second level education in Kinvara and surrounding areas. He said that the Department would continue its efforts to identify and acquire a permanent site for the proposed new co-educational secondary school.

According to Minister Killeen, “In light of increases in population in the South Galway area, the Department of Education and Science has determined that a new post primary school is required in the northern environs of Kinvara.” He commented, “It has been proposed that this school should cater for the Kinvara catchment area including traditional areas of North Clare, Ballinderreen and Kilcolgan, and should also cater for students from Clarinbridge and Oranmore for whom it may not be possible to make provision at St. Calasanctius Secondary School, Oranmore.”

The Minister started that the new school would be required for the 2012/13 school year, to coincide with the closure of Seamount College.