‘Major concerns’ over local landfill

Calls have been made for a suspension of operations at Tipperary Co Council’s landfill outside Nenagh amid local concern over widespread chemical contamination.

Members of the Ballymackey Environmental Group attended this week’s meeting of the council in Clonmel having previously asked their local representatives to seek a temporary suspension of works on two cells at the Ballaghveny site pending an Environmental Protection Agency review.

However, the meeting was informed that such a move could result in the council being prosecuted for breach of contractual obligations, as well as enforcement action from the EPA.

The Ballymackey Environmental Group’s concern is that the two cells, which were filled between 1985 and 1993, are sitting in groundwater that is rinsing waste and releasing leachate into the surrounding environment.

The group claims that chemicals including benzine, perchloroethylene, chloride and ammonia are being leached from the landfill.

They called for a removal of the waste and appropriate remediation of the site in order to protect the wider environment, as well as water testing of local wells and groundwater testing beyond Ballaghveny Stream to ascertain whether leachate is crossing the stream.

MOTIONS

Before the meeting were two notices of motion from Cllrs Phyll Bugler, Fiona Bonfield, Louise Morgan Walsh, Michael O’Meara, JP O’Meara, Pamela Quirke O’Meara and Seamus Morris. They asked the council to, “subject to legal, contractual, and environmental safety considerations, temporarily suspend further works on the engineered weather cap on Phase 1 (Cells 1 and 2) of the Ballaghveny landfill facility for a defined period, to commission an independent and comprehensive peer review of all remediation options and subject to EPA review”.

The second motion called on the council to “commission and undertake an expanded and independent programme of groundwater and domestic well monitoring in the vicinity of the Ballaghveny landfill facility”.

But they were told that any interruption to the remediation project “would likely result in enforcement action by the EPA, including the potential for prosecution of Tipperary Co Council”.

Director of Services Eamon Lonergan said a €2.2 million programme of environmental protection had been approved for the historic landfill. The funding was provided by the Dept of Climate, Energy and the Environment.

“Any delay in progressing the remediation works could jeopardise this funding arrangement and may ultimately result in the works needing to be funded from the council’s own resources,” the reply to the first motion read.

“It should be noted that a formal tender has been signed with a contractor to deliver the remediation works. Any suspension of works would constitute a breach of contract, potentially exposing the council to significant financial liabilities.”

‘NO EVIDENCE’

The council did not consider it necessary to expand the existing “comprehensive monitoring programme”, which includes both groundwater and well monitoring in accordance with EPA requirements. Regarding groundwater monitoring beyond the Ballaghveny Stream, the council said it carried out annual biological monitoring of the Ollatrim River. “Results to date indicate no evidence of any impact from the landfill on the water quality of either the Ollatrim River or on Ballaghveny Stream.”

But Cllr Bugler’s understanding was that batteries, paint and chemicals were dumped in the location in question. The water could rise as much as four metres, spreading these harmful materials for “miles around” the landfill.

Capping alone is not the solution, said Cllr Bugler, who called for a membrane for the two cells to stop them contaminating the local watercourse. Local residents want to “pause” activity pending a review. “It won’t jeopardise the overall delivery,” she said, “it’s to determine if the material there is toxic.”

RATHCABBIN WASTE

In support, Cllr Michael O’Meara mentioned the long-running problems with the former Shannon Vermicomposting site in Rathcabbin, where the EPA “insisted” on the removal of waste. He questioned why the same level of concern had not been afforded to Ballaghveny and wondered if proximity to the Shannon became a consideration.

Cllr O’Meara pointed out that Ballaghveny opened in the 1980s, a time when environmental controls were nowhere near the standard they are at today. He agreed that there needs to be an “in-depth analysis” of the situation at Ballaghveny.

Cllr JP O’Meara called for a suspension of works so that up-to-date data could be gathered through testing private wells, public drinking water, groundwater and the Ollatrim River.

As a nearby Nenagh resident, Cllr Morris expressed concern over contamination of the water table. He asked if Tipperary Co Council is satisfied with the situation.

Also supporting the call for pause was Cllr Fiona Bonfield, who asked whether the council had carried out “due diligence” in the matter, as did Cllr Louise Morgan Walsh, who mentioned “huge concerns” about the situation in the local community.

‘HOUSEHOLD WASTE’

Mr Lonergan said the Ballaghveny situation differed to Rathcabbin in that in that the former was a licensed facility, while the latter one was illegal. He assured the meeting that there were no signs of any chemical contamination and that the dumped material comprised “household waste”.

The council would be removing the leachate from the site and the capping would be “impermeable”, Mr Lonergan detailing the best-practice engineering implemented by the council, which he emphasised manages 22 landfill sites around the county.

“We have done our due diligence on this and we will continue to monitor it,” Mr Lonergan said. “We are not in the interest of causing environmental pollution. We’ve spent a lot of money and a lot of time on this, and we have 100% committed to monitoring this going forward.”

The director assured that the council would continue to engage with the EPA as independent regulator in the matter. Cllr Morris said local councillors should also be present at meetings with the EPA.

Cllr Quirke O’Meara said people in the vicinity of the landfill were told that their water would be tested but this never happened. Cllr Morgan Walsh suggested carrying out tests as a “goodwill gesture”.

Concluding the discussion, Cathaoirleach Cllr John Carroll noted that the council has met with the Ballymackey Environmental Group and he suggested continuing engagement on the matter.