Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 May 1998

Vol. 491 No. 4

Written Answers. - Zinc and Lead Production.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

41 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources whether his Department is undertaking any review of the regulations and the procedures regarding the mining of lead and zinc concentrate and its storage and transport through and from this country in view of the recent ecological disaster in Southern Spain. [12306/98]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

The various aspects of zinc and lead production, from mining for ore through to export of the concentrates, are subject to a web of legislation including the Minerals Development Acts, the Local Government (Planning and Development) Acts, the Environmental Protection Agency Act, The Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Acts, road transport regulations and the Road Traffic Acts. Carriage by sea is subject, as appropriate, to the international code for the carriage of dangerous goods by sea plus other International Maritime Organisation — IMO — and flag state requirements.

I understand that the incident in southern Spain to which the Deputy refers was due to a failure of a section of the mine tailings dam. The design, construction and management of tailings facilities in this country are primarily matters for the local planning authority and, especially, the EPA. Under the EPA Act, 1992, I am specifically precluded from attaching conditions which relate to prevention or control of environmental pollution to a permit under the Minerals Development Acts. Nevertheless my Department examines each development proposal in all its aspects, physical, financial, environmental, etc., and I will not grant a State mining facility where I am not satisfied that it is for a responsible development.

Before granting any State mining facility for production of lead and zinc I must satisfy myself that the management and environmental proposals are adequate and that planning permission and EPA licences are in place. In that context I make it a condition of a State mining facility that it is only valid in the places and manner provided for in the planning permission and EPA licences. The proposer of each new mine development is required to submit a detailed environmental impact statement — EIS. I am a statutory consultee in the planning process and a consultee of the EPA in its consideration of every EIS in relation to, among other things, the tailings impoundment dam. In exercise of my functions in relation to applications for State mining facilities I supplement the expertise available in my Department as necessary with specialist consultants to ensure that I can be satisfied with respect to: the underlying geology of the site; the design, construction and management of the dam; and the structural and environmental monitoring proposals for using the dam. This holistic approach ensures control of the construction, use and decommissioning of tailings dams and further ensures that any undesirable environmental effects are minimised and mitigated.

I am advised that the mining industry considers Ireland's environmental standards to be among the most rigorous and comprehensive in the world. I am satisfied that the EPA applies standards which will ensure that the best practice for the disposal of "non-hazardous" wastes is followed with regard to tailings facilities.

While the regulatory and legislative provisions for mining described above are under regular review, I am satisfied that the high standards which already apply here mean that an incident similar to that which occurred in southern Spain would be most improbable in Irish mines.