Surge in prosecutions against polluters

THE number of prosecutions for breaches of environmental legislation increased dramatically last year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

In a report on enforcement activity between 2006 and 2008, the EPA said more than 750 criminal prosecutions were initiated by local authorities last year, while 10,000 enforcement actions were also taken.

In total, over 130,000 inspections were carried out last year on compliance with legislation on waste, drinking water and water quality.

The EPA said it has taken 51 prosecutions between 2006 and 2008, resulting in a total of almost €685,000 in fines and costs being imposed at district court level. Most cases involved monitoring reporting failures and excessive emissions into rivers and lakes.

In addition, 779 prosecutions were taken by local authorities with over 690 linked to breaches of waste disposal legislation – a 72% increase on 2007 figures.

However, the EPA said there had been a sharp reduction in complaints about odours from waste transfer stations, although there had been an increase in the level of odour complaints at landfill dumps.

There was also a consolidation within the waste treatment market with over a third of EPA-licensed water facilities having closed down since 2006.

EPA director Dara Lynott said the agency and local authorities had adopted a risk-based approach to the enforcement of environmental legislation to make the best use of resources.

Mr Lynott said enforcement activity was matching the dramatic rise in environmental legislation which had been introduced. The EPA director said there had been a major strengthening of enforcement powers to improve compliance with EU directives on urban waste water and drinking water, while local authorities had new powers to supervise group water schemes.

Mr Lynott said environmental regulators were responsible for over 500 environmental protection functions contained in over 100 pieces of legislation. The EPA said there had been a slight fall in recent years in the number of bathing areas that met EU guideline standards, although overall 97% of Irish beaches still meet EU mandatory standards.

The EPA identified 339 public drinking water supplies that required remedial action to ensure they remained clean and fit for human consumption.

Mr Lynott said the number of activities regulated would double over the next two years with new legislation governing urban wastewater treatment plants, public drinking water supplies, farm emissions and solvent use.