Dereliction of duty by EPA
The fact that an inspector was not sent until 9am on Monday, July 4, shows the overall incompetence of that body. Did they expect the Crosshaven Fire Brigade to help ADM in the dilution of the pernicious spillage? Even very diluted caustic soda makes a most efficient paint stripper.
The distance from the ADM pier, where the spillage occurred, to the north shore of Monkstown Bay is approximately 500 metres the spillage occurred three hours before high water and even with the slack tides there was a strong probability that pockets of high alkaline caustic would have been up around the sand quay at Monkstown or dispersed along the shallows and beaches of Raffeen Creek within an hour.
Sunday morning Monkstown swimmers, safe in the knowledge that the recent completion of the Cork Drainage Scheme has removed most of the unpleasant matter from the River Lee, could have had a nasty surprise if their costumes instantly bleached to white after brief immersion.
Even worse, children's delicate skin could have been permanently damaged.
The decision, first of all, not to get involved immediately nor use the radio RTÉ 1, 96FM or Red FM to issue an immediate warning is a clear dereliction of duty by the EPA, which has been compounded by a flawed decision not to report the incident for three weeks, until Councillor Tim Lombard prised out the information and informed the media.
I do not necessarily agree with Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment's (CHASE) stance against an incinerator and am sympathetic that a properly-run, modern, controlled incinerator will effect a huge environmental improvement.
But these controls can only ease people's fears if they are satisfied that the Environmental Protection Agency is trustworthy enough to do its job.
The events of July 2/3 and subsequent obfuscation by that body has done nothing to improve that confidence.
Ted Crosbie
Currabinny
Co Cork.
