EPA under fire over second caustic spill

THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must review its response procedures to industrial accidents after the revelation of a second caustic soda spill in the past six weeks, environmentalists and politicians said yesterday.

Aughinish Alumina confirmed yesterday that, on June 22, up to 50 tonnes of caustic soda leaked at their plant on the River Shannon in Co Limerick during a loading operation.

Earlier this month, 252 tonnes of caustic soda leaked into Cork Harbour following an accident at ADM Ringaskiddy. The EPA made details of neither incident public.