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The Department of the Environment says it has completed an
investigation into survey works by Shell EP Ireland for the
Corrib gas pipeline and is “satisfied” that the developer
is complying with licensed requirements.
A senior engineer from the department travelled to north
Mayo to meet Shell management, following a complaint lodged
by community group Pobal Chill Chomáin.
A report by the engineer has found that the works in the
Sruwaddacon estuary special area of conservation comply with
foreshore licence conditions and are “in accordance” with
the approved environmental management plan, the department
has said.
However, Pobal Chill Chomáin, which lodged the complaint,
has expressed disappointment that it was not contacted by
the engineer, nor was it invited to submit video evidence
to back up its concerns. It says it had been advised by gardaí
in Belmullet to contact the department with its concerns.
Shell was licensed by Minister for Environment John Gormley
to drill up to 80 boreholes as part of its investigative work
into the new pipeline route - a route currently being considered
at a resumed oral hearing hosted by An Bord Pleanála in Belmullet.
Pobal Chill Chomáin claims that the number of ribs, tugs
and boats being used by Shell contractors for the investigative
work “regularly” exceeds the number cited in the firm’s foreshore
licence application for the work - as does the number of people
on board the vessels.
As part of its complaint, Pobal Chill Chomáin informed the
department about an incident on August 14th when a large group
of dolphins swam into Broadhaven bay - out into which Sruwaddacon
estuary runs - and was “subjected to a barrage of Shell boats
that constantly travelled between Rossport and Ballyglass”.
The community group says that there was no evidence of marine
mammal observers in the area. It is also concerned about the
frequency with which two jack-up rigs deployed for the work
are being moved.
The relocation “involves dragging through the sand and sediments
that are home to numerous species of shellfish that form part
of the local diet”. The group refers to a lack of independent
baseline study work for the estuary which would determine
the extent of the ecosystem and any subsequent damage caused
by survey works.
The group is also concerned about the level of private security
deployed by the company during the survey work.
Source - The Irish Times
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