Farmers concerned over caustic spill

A GROUP of farmers have raised concerns about the recent spillage of 50,000 litres of caustic soda at the Aughinish Alumina plant with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Cappagh Farmers Support Group chairman Patrick Sheehan raised questions about the reporting of the latest incident following a previous caustic soda spillage at the Limerick plant in May 2001.

Mr Sheehan said that Aughinish Alumina told the EPA in 2001 that the spillage was of minor significance and in the region of 50,000 litres. However, it was later revealed that the spill was 10 times that amount.

The EPA inspector at the time, Dr Gerry Byrne, confirmed that it was a “significant” spillage - particularly as the material was highly caustic and a real threat to human health, Mr Sheehan added.

The EPA subsequently prosecuted Aughinish Alumina for this breach of their Integrated Pollution Control Licence at Rathkeale District Court. The company was fined €1,270.

During the court case in July 2002, Aughinish Alumina admitted the original figure of 50,000 litres of caustic soda was incorrect, Mr Sheehan said.

The company said after examining their computer records that an estimated 500,000 litres of caustic soda had been released.

Mr Sheehan asked the EPA deputy director-general Dr Padraic Larkin if the latest caustic soda spillage at Aughinish Alumina in June could be a case of “deja vu”.

He asked the EPA if they had sent inspectors to Aughinish Alumina to investigate the latest spillage.

In a letter, Dr Larkin said the spillage at Aughinish Alumina on June 22 was minor and there was no release into the environment.

An EPA inspector visited the site on August 8 and the company’s internal records were reviewed, an EPA spokeswoman said. The inspector is satisfied that this incident was dealt with according to their procedures and caused no significant impact to the environment, she said.

The inspector has completed his site audit and the issue will be passed on to the Office of Environmental Enforcement, she added.

The EPA spokeswoman said the company was under no obligation to notify the EPA in relation to this issue because the spillage was contained within a bund.

“Information was placed on the company’s internal records and following a media inquiry, the EPA did contact the company for further information who then furnished us with the details of the issue,” she said.

The EPA spokeswoman said Aughinish Alumina was prosecuted for the caustic soda spillage in May 2001.

An Aughinish Alumina spokesman could not be reached for comment on the Cappagh Farmer Support Group letter last night.