Investigation continues with Louth site search ongoing
Environmental personnel from Louth Local Authorities will return tomorrow (Thurs, Sept 1) to resume an evidence-gathering operation at a 140-acre site in the county where materials recovered today (Wed) indicate the lands may have been used for illegal and environmentally harmful activity.
Council staff members, accompanied by An Garda Síochána and environmental consultants, entered the lands at 8am today on foot of a warrant.
Initial indications suggest oil, diesel sludge, tyres, animal carcasses, construction and demolition waste were deposited at the site over a period of time. Materials recovered from the land are to be tested further to ascertain their exact nature while there is ongoing contact with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government and personnel were on site today from the Dept of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food and National Parks & Wildlife Service.
Material of interest has been recovered from seven locations on the large land-bank.
Given the site’s location within a kilometre of the Cavan Hill water treatment plant, Louth Local Authorities have conducted additional testing to ensure there has been no harmful impact on the water supply to households in Dundalk and environs. The water treated at Cavan Hill is taken from the River Fane upstream of the site in question and there has been no contamination of the water supply.
Additional steps to reduce the risk of pollution are being taken by removing what’s believed to be oil and diesel sludge from the site with the focus of Thursday’s activity to be on environmental protection.
Des Foley, Director of Services, Louth Local Authorities, said: “This is very much an active investigation and the evidence-gathering on site will continue tomorrow with the site to be secured overnight. Once our work on site is completed, there will be two separate but related next phases – the collation of evidence with a view to a possible prosecution and planning for extensive remedial works on the lands involved which may have been damaged significantly.
“For the moment, we are keen to reassure the public that there is currently no evidence to suggest that the activity that we suspect may have taken place at this location has impacted adversely on the water going to and from the treatment plant nearby.”
ENDS – August 31, 2011.
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