MEP attacks watchdog over alumina plant safety audit

An MEP tonight expressed concern about the results of a environmental audit into a major factory in Limerick.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that the Aughinish Alumina plant in Askeaton produced emissions in 2003 which were seven times higher than the permitted level and was unable to account for 7,000 tonnes of toxic caustic solution.

Independent MEP Kathy Sinnott said the previously unpublished 2003 audit raised serious questions.

“What we’re seeing in this is that we’re not being protected by the EPA. The EPA are not protecting us and they are not protecting the people of West Limerick,” she said.

Ms Sinnott, who is a member of the European Parliament’s environment committee, repeated her call for the agency to be shut down.

She said she intended to raise the matter with the EU Commissioner for the Environment, Stavros Dimas.

“I have already talked to the Commissioner about this issue and I will put these new revelations to him,” she said.

The Aughinish Alumina plant, which is the largest of its kind in Europe, began its production of alumina on a 1,000 acre site in 1983.

Last year Taoiseach Bertie Ahern visited the plant and when questioned about the health concerns of local people, defended Aughinish Alumina’s record as the most “regulated” company of its kind in the world.

But the Limerick Leader newspaper today published extracts from the EPA’s 2003 audit which showed the company’s emissions from its liquid waste treatment facility, known as a calciner, were seven times higher than permitted levels when checked on February 13 that year.

The calciner emission levels were at 1,032 mg/m3 compared to the permitted level of 150 mg/m3.

The emissions recorded by Aughinish Alumina for inspection were 6 mg/m3.

The EPA audit said that as well as not notifying it of such incidents, the company was not using the sampling method specified in its licence at a number of emission points.

“The method used is subject to large inaccuracies,” it said.

The audit also raised concerns about up to 7,000 tonnes of caustic solution which were unaccounted for annually, with around 30 tonnes of this being lost through airborne emissions.

It strongly advised Aughinish Alumina to put in sampling procedures for groundwater.

The audit concluded by saying that the environmental management system at Aughinish Alumina is “mature, well developed and generally operates well”.

The Cappagh Farmers Support Group, which represents locals in the area, said it found this conclusion very hard to accept.

“They’ve broken licences on air and water and the EPA turns around and says it is very good. It makes a pure laugh of the EPA,” said spokesman Pat Geoghegan.

Aughinish Alumina was not available for comment.

The EPA said it had to retrieve the audit from its archives before making any comment.