I wish to raise the health implications arising from a study undertaken and conclusions drawn by the Environmental Protection Agency with regard to what is known as the Silvermines tailings management facility at Gortmore outside Nenagh. The Minister is probably aware that there have been a number of mining exploration experiences in north County Tipperary, specifically in the Silvermines area. The tailings facility, at Tailings Pond, arises from the mining which took place in the 1960s and 1970s and was operational until 1982. It was conducted by Mogul Ireland Limited, now taken over and wholly owned by Ennex International plc.
Tailings waste was delivered by pipeline to the tailings pond at Gortmore, approximately two or three miles outside Nenagh. This tailings facility, which was effectively a toxic dump, was constructed without any planning permission and in the absence of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Waste Management Act and so on.
In 1984, two years after the mining finished and the tailings pond was completed, dust blew in a very worrying and dangerous fashion from the tailings pond creating a local environmental hazard, indeed disaster, with which it was not possible to deal legislatively at the time. However, following pressure by local residents and public representatives at the time, Ennex International plc undertook to rehabilitate the tailings pond and a certain amount of vegetation was planted on it, which had the short-term effect of calming the dust problem and generating at least a sense of security about the facility in the area until relatively recently.
Before Christmas, the tailings pond, which covers more than 150 acres, was sold to a Limerick man who began to excavate it by putting a JCB on it and placing sheep on the facility. This caused much local disturbance and I, among others, alerted the Environmental Protection Agency, the county council and other agencies to what was happening. In response, the EPA acted very quickly, visited the site and produced a report early in January.
The conclusions of the report are very disturbing. The report states: "Highly polluting leachate is migrating in an uncontrolled fashion from the sides of the TMF". Any visitor to the site can see this. The pond is approximately 30 metres high with almost perpendicular embankments and one can see where yellow and copper coloured material is leaking from the pond and going directly into the local Kilmastulla River, which flows into the River Shannon at Castleconnell. The EPA concluded that the tailings management facility represents a perpetual risk to human health and the environment. It is this risk to human health I want to highlight this evening.
Locals living in the area have seen a certain amount of dust blowing off the tailings pond, particularly when the weather is dry or the wind is blowing in a particular direction. Vegetation creates a natural barrier on some sites but other sites are completely exposed. The dust has an extremely high lead content and this was highlighted in 1984.
Some 55 per cent of the surface of the tailings facility is exposed because vegetation is no longer growing on it for two reasons. First, the material in the tailings, which is known as ARD, is burning the grass which is growing on the tailings facility and, second, there is a natural wastage because the vegetation has not been fertilised or maintained over the years. There are significant bald patches resembling wet sand on a flat beach which, when dry, give off dust which is extremely dangerous.
The environmental engineer from Tipperary North Riding County Council, the EPA and Ennex International are currently drawing up a rehabilitation plan for the tailings facility, as was recommended in the EPA report. However, I am concerned at the ongoing leakage of highly polluting leachate into the local river and land. There are some controls on the growing of vegetables in the area but local landowners, particularly those who have wells sunk on their property and who regularly test them, have recorded a high level of lead in the water and they are fearful of its effect on their animals. There are some anecdotal reports about animals dying, but I do not want to exaggerate the position without the availability of post mortem data.
Given the conclusions reached by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Health and Children should request agencies with responsibility for public health to conduct a comprehensive and in-depth study of the effects of the tailings facility on public health, particularly in the absence of any proper management. I ask the Minister to order an inquiry to investigate the risk contained in the air, the water and the soil surrounding the 147 acres of toxic waste. This facility is three miles from a large population centre which is totally dependent on agriculture to support its local economy. I look forward to the Minister's response.
