Air Pollution

Louth County Council is responsible for dealing with air pollution in County Louth. The Air Pollution Act 1987 is the legislation enforced by Louth County Council in dealing with Air pollution complaints. Typical complaints include backyard burning.

There are also a number of regulations under the Air Pollution act which are enforced the Environment Section of Louth County Council. These relate to the use of Solvents (SI 543 of 2002), Vehicle refinishing (SI 199 of 2007) and Marketing, Sale and Distribution of Fuels) Regulations 1998 (SI 118 of 1998) amended.

If you wish to make a complaint about air pollution, please contact the Environment Section Louth County Council (042)9353130.

SaleMarketing and Distribution of Fuels Regulations 1998(amended)

New regulations under the Air Pollution Act 1987 (No. 6 of 1987) which introduces a maximum sulphur content of 0.7% for bituminous coal placed on the market for residential use has been enacted in 2011.

Regulation S.I. No 270 of 2011 amend the existing Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Marketing, Sale and Distribution of Fuels) Regulations 1998 (SI 118 of 1998), which can be viewed at www.irishstatutebook.ie.

These regulations have been made in order to safeguard ambient air quality and protect human health from the harmful emissions which result from the burning of high sulphur bituminous coal.

The Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Marketing, Sale and Distribution of Fuels) Regulations are enforced by Louth County Council. The powers of authorised persons are set out under Regulation 8. A Local Authority may bring a prosecution under section 11 of the Air Pollution Act 1987 for breaches of the Regulations.

Also under these new regulations there is a requirement for coal baggers and suppliers to register with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and for those placing on the market, selling or distributing such coal to hold such records as demonstrate that their product complies with the new sulphur standard.

The role of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) in this is also underpinned by regulations S.I. No 271 of 2011 made by the Minister under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992. A copy of these regulations can be viewed at www.irishstatutebook.ie. A certification scheme has been developed by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to assist suppliers and baggers in meeting these requirements which will allow suppliers and baggers to demonstrate compliance with the new sulphur standard.

Ban on Bituminous Fuels

The Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Marketing, Sale & Distribution of Fuels) Regulations, 1998, designated Dundalk town (The urban district of Dundalk) and the Borough of Drogheda including the townlands of Lagavooren and Bryanstownas as ‘Smoke Free Zones’. The restriction on smoky coals with a high smoke and sulphur-dioxide content is intended to improve air quality by replacement with smokeless fuels in urban areas. This ban specifically relates to bituminous or smoky products. There is a large selection of high quality smokeless products available. Smokeless coals will ensure better air quality in our Urban Environment. To comply with the ban – simply burn smokeless. Louth County Council carries out inspections within these smoke free zones to ensure compliance with the regulations

What are the penalties?

The Air Pollution Act 1987 has been amended to increase maximum fine amounts for breaches of regulations made under the Air Pollution Act to €5,000 on summary conviction and €500,000 for conviction on indictment. Amendments have also being made to allow fixed payment notices (commonly referred to as ‘on the spot fines’) to be applied in respect of relevant offences. Louth County Council can issue on the spot fines of €1,000 for the marketing, sale or distribution of bituminous fuel in a restricted area, or of coal exceeding the maximum sulphur content in any area. It will also be possible to issue an on the spot fine of €250 if a record demonstrating compliance is not held. These amendments have been introduced as part of the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011.

Solvents Regulations (SI No 543 of 2002)

The Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds from Organic Solvents Regulations SI No 543 of 2002 (Solvents Regulations) were introduced in 2002. If your organisation uses solvents, then the regulations may apply:

All installations must comply with either Emission Limit values in waste gases and fugitive emission values or total emission limit values as specified in Schedule 2 of the Regulations.

A new installation must comply with the solvent regulations immediately before they start operations.

Since 31^st October 2005 compliance with the Solvent Regulations can only be achieved using the Emission Limit Value (ELV).

AIC inspections must be carried out on an annual basis to check compliance with the solvent Regulations. The report produced by the AIC will then be submitted to the local Authority once the inspection is completed.

The following business sectors come under schedule 1 of the Solvent regulations if operated above the thresholds listed in Schedule 2 of the regulations:

Adhesive Coating
Coating Activity
Coil Coating
Dry Cleaning
Footwear Manufacture
Manufacturing of Coating Preparations, Varnishes Inks and Adhesives
Manufacturing of Pharmaceutical Product
Printing
Rubber conversion
Surface Cleaning
Vegetable Oil and Animal Fat Extraction and Vegetable Oil Refining Activities
Vehicle Refinishing ( See Deco Regulations S.I. 199 of 2007 below also)
Winding Wire Coating
Wood Impregnation
Wood and Plastic Lamination

Accredited Inspection Contractors

In order to attain compliance, an Accredited Inspection Contractor (AIC) must review your operation and produce a report on the level of compliance with the regulations. This report will state if you are in compliance or not.

Please refer to the list of AIC’s on:

www.inab.ie

An AIC report demonstrating compliance with the regulations must be submitted to Louth County Council, together with the completed registration form and a fee of €50. On the basis of this documentation, Louth County Council will make a decision on the issue of a Certificate of Compliance for your operation. Failure to obtain a Certificate of Compliance by October 31st 2007 may result in Louth County Council initiating enforcement proceedings under the Air Pollution Act 1987.

Queries

If you have any queries in relation to the Solvent Regulations please contact:

Environment Section

Louth County Council
Tel: 042-9353130

Registration of an Installation Form

Solvents Regulations - Registration of an Installation Form

Deco regulations: SI 199 of 2007 (Vehicle Refinishing)

The Decorative Paints Regulations (External link S.I. 199 of 2007) oblige vehicle refinishers to have a solvent management plan carried out by an Accredited Inspection Contractor (AIC), review their operations and obtain a compliant AIC report. A list of AICS can be found on the Irish National Accreditation Board's website (www.inab.ie). The resulting compliant AIC report along with a completed Vehicle Refinishers Registration of an Application Form (see below) and registration fee €50 must be submitted to the Environment Section at Louth County Council. Certificates of approval must be renewed every two years.

Failure to obtain a Certificate of Approval under the above regulations may result in Louth County Council initiating enforcement proceedings.

The following is the current list of registered car spray painters under the above regulations in Co Louth. Please contact the Environment Section (042)9353130 to check whether the spray painter registration is in date.

Smiths of Drogheda	North Road, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Mr Paul Mullen Louth Commercials	Readypenny, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Danton Motor Company Ltd	T/A Kieran Motors, North Rd., Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Mr Cyril Roddy	Roddy Repairs, Belurgan Point, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Mr Declan Byrne	JD Auto Crash Repairs, Drogheda Rd., Tenure, Co. Louth.
Mr Kieran Carr	Gravel Walk, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Joe Furness Ltd	Mell Industrial Estate, Drogheda Co. Louth.
Oriel Auto Specialists Ltd	Coes Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Mr Oliver Marmion	Carrickedmond, Kilcurry, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Mr Johnny O'Brien	Newtownstalaban, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Mr Joe Mc Ardle	Linenhall Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Mr Seamus Curtis	Doodstown, Ardee, Co. Louth.
Mr Brian McGovern	Harestown Rd., Monasterboice, Co. Louth.
Mr Gerard Duffy, Duffy Coach Bodies	Industrial Estate, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Mr Tom McGovern Semlgov Ltd	Kilineer, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Mr Darren Caldwell, TD Caldwell Ltd	Unit 16a, Newgrange Business Park, Donore Rd., Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Mr Sean McBride	Nunnereryland, Termonfeckin, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Mr Liam Ussher	Balgathern, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Mc Cabes Ardee	Glebe, Ardee, Co. Louth.
Mr Hugh McMahon	Market House Lane, Ardee, Co. Louth.
Mr Paul Callan Car Medic Ltd	Jenkinstown, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Ardee Coach Trim Ltd	Artnalivery, Ardee, Co. Louth.
Mr Patrick Yore	Crash Repairs, Green Road, Dromiskin, Co. Louth.
Mr Joe Duffy	Marlbog Rd., Blackrock, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Mr Joseph Kelly	Competition Motors, Belurgan Point, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Mr Peter O Hare	Carrickedmund, Kilcurry, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Mr Martin Kinahan	The Crash Repair Centre, The Lane, Dromiskin, Co. Louth.
Mr Eugene Macken	Ballybarrack, Knockbridge, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Mr Peter Nash	Carrickedmund, Kilcurry, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Mr Stanley Meehan	Meehan Body Repair Specialists, Haggardstown, Dublin Rd., Dundalk, Co. Louth.