EPA backtracks on official’s role over toxic spill

THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) admitted last night it did not know the identity of the “senior official” who decided not to send an inspector to immediately check out the spillage of 252 tonnes of caustic soda into Cork Harbour earlier this month.

Following the embarrassing admission, the EPA is investigating the matter to find out who decided not to send an inspector to the ADM Ringaskiddy plant on July 3 following the leak.

EPA director of licensing and guidance Dr Padraic Larkin said: "We are taking a systematic look at who did what and who said what, to establish the facts we don't know exactly who made the decision, but the person holding the emergency phone was a senior official."