PRESS RELEASE - 15/02/05
INCINERATOR OPEN TO EXPLOSIONS, SAYS CHEMICAL ENGINEER
__________________________________________________

At the EPA Oral Hearing today Chemical Engineer, Peter North, who spoke on behalf of East Cork for a Safe Environment, said that the proposed incinerator site at Ringaskiddy is an unsuitable location for this type of facility.

He particularly highlighted the fact that local knowledge of thermal inversions has been ignored; while inappropriate data collected from another area, Cork Airport, has been used by the EPA.

Mr North told the hearing that inadequate waste separation techniques are to be employed by Indaver. Randomly selected materials incinerated together could create a dangerous explosive mix, leaving open the danger of an explosion within the incinerator.

Mr North’s concerns could not be addressed at the Hearing due to the continued absence of the directors of the Environmental Protection Agency from the proceedings. Mr Jonathon Derham, Inspector of the Oral Hearing, continues to refuse to request the Board’s attendance, in spite of numerous requests to do so by all the community groups participating.

This continued lack of engagement by the Board of Directors leaves the public expressing its anger and dissatisfaction about the EPA’s lack of accountability to the citizens of Cork.

----- ENDS ----

For further information contact:
Mary Hurley, CHASE PRO, Tel: 021 4813070 Mobile: 086 8162448
Mary O’Leary, Chairperson, CHASE Tel: 021 4811952 Mobile: 086 8177737