Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2013
230. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the Environmental Protection Agency investigation into the recent noxious smell in Shannon, County Clare. [43270/13]
View answerThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in close cooperation with Clare County Council, is actively investigating the cause of reported odours in Shannon with the objective of quickly identifying the source(s) of the odours and the reason why these odours are being released, so that any appropriate steps may be taken to address the issues and prevent any further releases. The EPA has also met with medical professionals from the Midwest Department of Public Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE). The HSE is contributing to the investigation.
The EPA has advised my Department that investigations to date indicate that the source of the odours appears to be the sewer network in Shannon. Investigative efforts will be focused on the sewer collection network including all discharges to the network and improvements that may be beneficial at Shannon Town’s wastewater treatment plant.
The EPA and Clare County Council, with the assistance of the HSE, have put in place an action programme for further monitoring and investigation. This includes:
- the development of a programme to optimise the operation of the wastewater treatment plant in order to reduce/eliminate the odour issue, with necessary remedial actions identified and measures put in place;
- on-going odour surveillance by Clare County Council and EPA personnel;
- maintenance of the database of complaints to provide ongoing intelligence on the occurrence and nature of odours in the Shannon Area, which is being updated daily as information is received;
- on-going assessment by the EPA and Clare County Council of the industrial operations in the Shannon area and their environmental performance;
- monitoring by the HSE of any unusual patterns of illness in the local population;
- an assessment of relevant portions of the sewer network in Shannon Town to identify any significant problems with the integrity of the system; and
- air quality monitoring to measure for hydrogen sulphide, which has a characteristic rotten egg smell.
The odour problem remains under active and detailed investigation by the EPA and Clare County Council. The EPA has been liaising with local public representatives as well as local media to disseminate information to the public and will continue to do so while the investigation is ongoing and until the situation is remedied.
The EPA has also informed my Department that it monitored air quality in Shannon between March 2012 and June 2013, measuring a range of pollutants that are the most important indicators for assessing impact on human health. All measured pollutant levels were found to be below EU limit values.
