The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has again warned a Co Offaly sawmills that it is in breach of its integrated pollution control licence. Tim O'Brien writes.
T & J Standish Sawmills was also refused permission to retain its operation at Leap Castle in the Agancon Valley by Bord Pleanála last July. The company, however, has remained in operation at the site, and has now submitted a second planning application for its fence-post and timber-treatment works.
A High Court action aimed at forcing the removal of the company is being taken by the Agancon Concerned Residents' Association.
However, following the Bord Pleanála ruling in July, the company declared its intention to remain in operation, taking out advertising in a local newspaper to reassure its customers that it would not close.
Offaly County Council has taken legal advice on enforcement of the Bord Pleanála decision.
However, in January the council declared valid a new planning application for retention of the sawmills. In that application the sawmills maintained it was in line with an integrated pollution control licence granted by the EPA.
However, the EPA, which has previously successfully prosecuted the company for pollution, had written to the company and Offaly County Council on December 13th, claiming the company was not in compliance with the terms of its licence.
Tests carried out last year by consultants for the sawmills revealed the presence of carcinogens used in wood preservative in run-off water from the plant. Further tests carried out by EPA, however, found water quality in local wells was safe for human consumption.
The on-going saga has angered the local residents' association, which has also criticised the council for failing to enforce the Bord Pleanála decision which will be a year old this summer.
A spokesman for the association told The Irish Times that "locals are flabbergasted. What do you have to do to win. This business failed in its application for retention, it has been successfully prosecuted by the EPA, and now we must face a planning battle all over again while the business continues."
Part of the locals' anger stems from the fact that in reorganising the operation, which it was claimed was to take account of the EPA concerns and the Bord Pleanála ruling, the new application for retention is for a larger premises than that which was initially refused.
A spokesman for the sawmills was not available for comment yesterday.
Locals also claim they were informed that, due to the volume of correspondence on the issue, the council would not be in a position to reply to all of their letters in future.
Offaly County Council said yesterday it was continuing enforcement proceedings on foot of last year's Bord Pleanála decision, and it was also considering the company's new retention application.
Mr Jack Keyes, the council's director of corporate enforcement, said a court date for its action had been set for next month. In the meantime the council was aware of the EPA's determination that the company was in breach of its pollution control licence.
He said council staff had met with the EPA, and had seen copies of the EPA letter to the company of December last, advising it of its non-compliance.