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The ESB has been given a week to draft a schedule of measures
aimed at rectifying problems with ash-storage arrangements
at its power station at Moneypoint, in Co Clare.
The move follows complaints from local residents to the Environment
Protection Agency (EPA) about an incident on July 4th last
when ash from a storage pit was blown on to local properties.
An investigation of that incident confirmed elevated dust
emissions in breach of the ESB’s Pollution Control Licence.
During a site visit last month, the EPA found the station
to be non-compliant in a number of areas.
The ESB has been given until August 19th to outline ways
in which it will rectify those breaches. The EPA report has
raised other concerns about record keeping and dust monitors
at the ash landfill at Moneypoint.
The EPA said the ash pit only has a further 10 years capacity.
Locals have also been disappointed with the ESB’s response
to their concerns and have said there has been little or no
communication from the company.
Local resident and community spokeswoman Eve Browne said
- “Our own complaints in relation to the landfill and the
smoke emissions go back to 2007 and I know there are complaints
on file at Moneypoint dating back a lot further than that.
“The fact that the EPA has now given the ESB a definite timeframe
to submit a schedule detailing how the various non-compliances
will be rectified - plus looking for clearer records of daily
checks on the landfill and emissions from the smoke stacks
- is welcome news.”
In a statement, the ESB said - “Following a lengthy period
of dry weather, ash dust was detected blowing off the site
on July 4th. Immediate steps were taken to rectify the situation.”
It said it was investigating the issue of smoke emissions.
Source - The Irish Times
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