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Summer 2011

epaNewsThe newsletter of the Environmental Protection Agency

The freshwater pearl mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera, is a bivalve. This is a type of mollusc or snail with a body that is almost completely enclosed between a pair of shells. The freshwater pearl mussel is one of the longest living invertebrates known, and individuals can survive for over 100 years. As their name suggests, the freshwater pearl mussel has the ability to occasionally produce pearls. However, pearl fishing is illegal, as there is currently no sustainable way to extract the pearls.

Clean, fast-flowing streams and rivers are required for the freshwater pearl mussel, where it lives buried or partly buried in fine gravel and coarse sand, generally in water at depths up to two metres. Clean gravel and sand is essential, particularly for a juvenile freshwater pearl mussel. If the stream or river bottom becomes clogged with silt, they cannot obtain oxygen and will die. Also essential is the presence of a healthy population of salmonids, a group of fish which includes salmon and trout, on which the freshwater pearl mussel relies for part of its life cycle.

Freshwater pearl mussel pearls develop like they do in sea-living pearl mussels. They are produced by the pallial epithelium. Foreign particles are coated with layers of aragonite crystals, so after a long time, a pearls comes into existence. A freshwater pearl mussel needs about 20 to 25 years to produce a pearl 4mm in diameter!

While new distribution maps show that pearl mussels are widespread in Ireland, the status of these populations is a different matter. In a recent study of 32

Inside epaNews Page

The EPA’s role in the Protection of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel 1

Director General’s Statement 2-3

President McAleese and Minister Phil Hogan Visit EPA Headquarters 4-5

Waste Licences issued 5

The EU Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme – A review of the first six years of operation 6-7

EPA projections of greenhouse gas emissions to 2020 8

Sea Lettuce: A Burning Issue in the Clonakilty Area 9

STRIVE 10-13

Overview of Bathing Water Quality in 2010 14

Recent Developments in Implementation of the New Bathing Water Directive 15

Pollutant Release and Transfer Register 16

Tyndall Conference and EPA Climate Change Lecture 17

Waste Water Discharge Licences issued 17

EPA Prosecutions 18

GMO Consents issued 19

IPPC Licences issued 19

Dumping at Sea Permits 19

living populations of freshwater pearl mussel it was found that only eight had young mussels present. Since the1970s, the main cause for decline has been deteriorating river water quality. Hence, the largest populations are to be found in remote areas with the least changes to the river channel, and with the least intensive agriculture, forestry, industry or human pressure within the catchment.

Populations of pearl mussel in Ireland are in serious decline and are listed in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) red data book, as endangered worldwide. Current research suggests that this species will disappear from Ireland unless adequate protection and management is provided.

The EPA’s role in the Protection of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel

continued on pg 4

The Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Image courtesy of Áine O’ Connor, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht)

epaNews: Spring 2011

Welcome to the Summer edition of EPANews, my last as Director General of the EPA. In addition to providing an update on recent developments, I would also like to take this opportunity to look back over the past nine years and capture the various transformations that the EPA has gone through in that time.

Transformational change is not new to the EPA. Having been established in 1993 and guided through its formative years by its first Director General, the late Bill McCumiskey, we embarked upon the first major change in strategic direction for the Agency in 2003. At that time, we established the Office of Environmental Enforcement, split the licensing and enforcement functions and also transformed our communications function, becoming more outwardly focussed and setting up a dedicated communications team. Looking back, that process of change worked successfully and most importantly, served the organisation well with a better service to the public as a result. Much innovation resulted from that change, including a risk based approach to enforcement and the use of a newly-established environmental enforcement network to achieve objectives. These innovations enabled us to deal with the scourge of illegal dumping, for example, a problem that is now largely resolved. They also allowed us to oversee the modernisation of our national waste infrastructure. As a result we now see 50 per cent of our waste being sent to landfill as opposed to 91 per cent less than a decade ago.

A second period of change saw expansion in the EPA. We recruited 50 new staff and took on many new responsibilities. During that time we set up a dedicated climate team,

recognising that climate change was set to become a priority issue for Ireland. The EPA is now recognised at many different levels as having a key role in Ireland’s responses to climate change. The establishment of the Resource Use Unit was pivotal in terms of resource use efficiency, a topic that is of major interest at EU level now but also allows us to demonstrate actual savings, financial and environmental for participating sectors. Again, innovations emerged from this period of change. These included the establishment of a series of Climate Change lectures, and the communication associated with them, to the novel sectoral approaches adopted to using resources efficiently such as the Green Hospitality Programme and Green Business initiative.

The EPA, like all public sector organisations, is currently undergoing a further period of major change. This requires us to look at how to deliver an improved service to the public with fewer staff and fewer financial resources. We have already begun this process, having lost 14 staff since 2008 without replacement.Adjustments have been made in a number of work areas allowing us to take on new work such as a new licensing regime in the form of Dumping at Sea licences and the remediation of the closed Kerdiffstown landfill site. I am happy to say that once again staff have shown that they are flexible, adaptable and open to change. This flexibility has proven very successful with all deliverables on track. Staff in the Finance and HR areas for example recently undertook a significant level of reorganisation that resulted in improved services to internal and external customers as well as quantifiable savings.

Expansive technological projects too are a key part of this adaption. A major project to develop an end to end licensing, enforcement, monitoring and assessment system will bring efficiencies to our processes and free up staff to carry out the more value-added activities. The development of such a system is currently utilizing a big resource in the EPA, both financial and human, but the decision to release staff to this project - and at a time of shrinking staff resources – was taken strategically to allow us to invest for the future. Significant change and adaptation has occurred in every office and at all levels in the organisation to compensate for the loss of staff and to allow for redeployment as necessary.

Recent change has also been prompted by the maturation of Water Framework Directive

Director General’s Statement

(WFD) processes in which the EPA has been heavily involved. We undertook a pre-emptive review of our Office of Environmental Assessment during 2010 so as to position the EPA to be ready to meet the ever-increasing demands the WFD would entail now that it has been well established. Many of the recommendations of the review are being progressed through 2011. They include the consolidation of laboratory services in four rather than five locations to provide a fully integrated laboratory service, with common systems, methods and costings. Other initiatives include the continued installation of telemetry at hydrometric stations, a review of the hydrometric network and cooperation with the OPW in undertaking river water level and flow measurements, the implementation of full electronic reporting of analytical results from laboratories to clients, and the development and implementation of a risk based approach to monitoring of licensed sites and WFD surveillance and operational monitoring.

The EPA recently underwent an independent review of its role and performance as agreed in the Programme for Government in 2007. The Review report was published on May 30th this year. Throughout the process, lasting 16 months, the Board of the EPA engaged with the appointed Review Committee and were responsive to their needs. We found it a very beneficial exercise that should be a routine process that all state agencies would go through periodically. The Review is the first to be carried out of the Agency and the report provides a very comprehensive and fair analysis of the EPA’s role and performance since establishment. The general finding of the Review that the EPA has “grown and matured, providing considerable benefit for Ireland’s environment, and for the health and well-being of its people” is a tribute to the hard work, expertise and professionalism of the staff of the Environmental Protection Agency, whose integrity and commitment to protection of Ireland’s environment is exemplary. The report contains 58 recommendations which are aimed at the further strengthening and development of the EPA. Many of the recommendations are directed to organisations outside of the EPA, mainly the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, including a recommendation for a wider review of environmental governance in Ireland. Others require legislative changes, many suggested by ourselves, to give EPA

epaNews: Spring 2011

more powers, strengthen existing powers or strengthen environmental governance more generally. The report addresses the issue of resourcing the EPA and urges the Minister to ensure adequate funding and resources, including resources for environmental research.

Of the recommendations directed to the EPA, many are in train already. One of the more significant recommendations is that an additional Advisory Committee to the EPA should be established to address the issue of the interface between human health and the environment. Other recommendations include some change in arrangements concerning the existing EPA Advisory Committee, removal of the current statutory immunity of the Agency, and extension of the remit of the Ombudsman to activities of the Agency. The EPA’s own governance system was examined and endorsed. No changes to the structure of the Board are recommended and an appeals mechanism against Board decisions is discussed and rejected in favour of oversight by the Ombudsman. The Group also recommended a wider statutory role for the EPA in Strategic Environmental Assessment and endorses the EPA role in environmental research. Monitoring, data collection, analysis and assessment are discussed in detail and a number of recommendations are proposed for consideration.

By and large, relationships with stakeholders

are found to be positive – there is a recommendation that EPA and ENGOs review the structured arrangements for engagement. Communications gets a positive review and the website is considered a highly effective interface.

Now that the external review of the Agency is complete we have already begun to develop a statement of strategy for the EPA that will need to take all of these external factors into account while continuing to try to achieve our 2020 environmental goals. It is scheduled for publication later in 2011. Clearly this statement of strategy will take account of the findings of the Review as well as incorporating the type of radical change that is required across the Civil and Public service to deal with the national crisis that is upon us. And, although the pace at which change is forced upon us has quickened and the uncertainty regarding the future is unprecedented, I know that the Directors and staff of the EPA have the flexibility and adaptability to ensure that the EPA emerges from this period of retrenchment a strong and resilient organisation, and playing its role in Ireland’s recovery.

The EPA continues to strive to be the best it can be. During 2010, the Great Places to Work Institute awarded the EPA the Best Public Sector Company Award. We also received accreditation from the National Disability Authority for our commitment to providing accessible services for the public and

EPA Headquarters achieved environmental certification to ISO 14001. We are rightly proud of these achievements and they help place the EPA in a strong position to deal with the very difficult challenges ahead.

A report by the National Economic and Social Council in 2010 entitled Re-finding Success in Europe: The Challenge for Irish Institutions and Policy cited the EPA as being one of Ireland’s best agencies.

In recent months we were privileged to welcome both the Minister for the Environment, Communities & Local Government, Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D. and President Mary McAleese to Headquarters in Johnstown Castle Estate, Wexford. Both visits were a great success and our visitors’ eloquent words inspired and motivated everyone present to continue the good work the EPA is doing, and to intensify the efforts to protect the environment.

As I leave the EPA this summer, I am confident that I leave an organisation that is fit for purpose and with a professional dedicated and flexible staff. Some of the EPA achievements I have been particularly proud of during my time in the EPA include the establishment of the Office of Environmental Enforcement, the establishment of Ireland’s Emissions Trading Scheme and the provision of environmental education resources for primary and second level schools.

It has been a great privilege for me to lead the Environmental Protection Agency through the past nine years, and to see it grow and flourish in that time. I am confident that it will go from strength to strength, and that the dedication of the excellent staff of the Agency will ensure that Ireland’s environment is protected.

I would like to thank my fellow Directors, past and present, the EPA Advisory Committees with whom I have worked, and the Minister and staff of the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, for all of their help and support in my time as Director General.

Dr. Mary KellyDirector General Environmental Protection Agency

Dr. Mary Kelly, EPA Director General; President of Ireland, Mary McAleese and Jim Hurley, EPA Programme Manager at EPA Headquarters.

epaNews: Summer 2011

The EPA’s role in the Protection of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel

continued from pg 1

In 2009, national legislation was developed to support the achievement of favourable conservation status for the pearl mussel: European Communities Environmental Objectives (Freshwater Pearl Mussel) Regulations 2009 S.I. No. 296 of 2009 (Pearl Mussel Regulations). The first schedule of the regulations lists the 27 designated freshwater pearl mussel habitats and delineates the catchments of the specified freshwater pearl mussel populations. This legislation also sets out environmental quality objectives for freshwater pearl mussel habitats - which is equivalent to high status water quality - and requires the production of the sub basin management plans with a programme of measures to achieve these objectives.

The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for regulating activities that have significant polluting potential. Licensed activities are required to conform to best practice and all licences, authorisations and permits are routinely monitored to ensure ongoing compliance with requirements. The EPA is obliged to examine the terms of all existing licences with a view to determining whether they address the obligations laid down in the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Surface Waters) Regulations 2009 S.I. No. 272 of 2009 (surface water regulations) and European Communities Environmental Objectives (Groundwater) Regulations 2010 S.I No 9 of 2010. The EPA must declare that the licence is compliant or technically amend/review the licence by 22nd December 2012.

However, where there are discharges into designated freshwater pearl mussel habitats, these licences must be reviewed by the earlier date of 22nd December 2011. The EPA has identified nine such licensable activities discharging into freshwater pearl mussel catchments. In reviewing these licences, the EPA shall set emission limit values that aim to achieve the ecological quality objectives specified in the pearl mussel regulations.

President McAleese and Minister Phil Hogan Visit EPA Headquarters

The staff of the EPA were delighted to recently welcome both the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, and Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr Phil Hogan, T.D. to their Headquarters in Johnstown Castle Estate, Wexford.

Both President McAleese, who visited on the 15th June, and Minister Hogan, who visited on the 18th April, took the opportunity to address the staff at Headquarters. And these addresses were broadcast by video-conference to the EPA regional offices in Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork, Castlebar and Monaghan.

Both visitors highlighted the very important work that the EPA carries out and thanked the Agency for their diligence and hard work in promoting a culture that protects and improves the Irish environment. President McAleese went on to say that - thanks to the Agency’s work - Irish society now accepts that we all have a collective responsibility to ensure that the future development of our economy is proofed so as to contribute to the sustainability of the environment in which we live and work.

In reference to the President’s visit, Dr. Mary Kelly, Director General of the EPA said that the Agency was honoured by President McAleese’s visit, which it saw as recognition of the importance of the environment in the daily lives of all Irish citizens, and her acknowledgement of the high level of environmental protection delivered by the EPA in recent years.

During their visits, both Minister Hogan and President McAleese had the opportunity to be briefed on some EPA citizen-focussed programmes that promote waste prevention and support environmental protection. Both received demonstrations of the SPLASH website – the EPA’s innovative bathing water website and The Environment in Focus website - a user-friendly site which provides a useful resource for those interested in obtaining information on recent trends in the Irish environment and allows easier public access to environmental data.

Minister Hogan was also updated on DREAM (Dynamic Risk Enforcement Assessment Methodology) which was developed to assist in prioritising the regulation and enforcement of Waste Water Discharge Licences. And President McAleese was informed about the new BeGreen website; a resource which brings together all of the guides and waste prevention programmes that have been put in place by the EPA, local authorities and other partners to promote waste prevention in Ireland.

Andy Fanning, Mary Kelly, President Mary McAleese, Kirsty Nolan, Jim Hurley and Conor Cleneghan pictured at EPA Headquarters.


Waste Licences issued from 1st March to 31st May 2011

Landfill:Cavan County CouncilCorranure LandfillLismagratty & Corranure TownlandsCootehill RoadCavanW0077-04

Cork City CouncilKinsale Road LandfillBallyphehaneCurraghconwayInchisarsfieldSouth City Link RoadCorkW0012-03

Recycling or reclamation: Lennon Quarries LimitedLennon Quarries LimitedTallaghBelmulletCo. MayoW0256-01

Roadstone Wood LimitedFassaroe Waste Recovery FacilityFassaroe AvenueFassaroeBrayWicklowW0269-01

President McAleese and Minister Phil Hogan Visit EPA Headquarters

Dr Mary Kelly (Director General, EPA), Mr Phil Hogan T.D. (Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government), Laura Burke, Matt Crowe and Dara Lynott (EPA Directors) pictured during the Minister’s visit to EPA Headquarters in April.

The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, addresses EPA staff during her recent visit to EPA Headquarters in Wexford.


show that Ireland can comply with its Kyoto obligations (2008 – 2012) with regard to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but is predicted to breach its annual obligations under the EU 20

The EU Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme – A review of the first six years of operation

The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is a cornerstone of the European Union’s policy to combat climate change and its key tool for reducing industrial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions cost-effectively. The EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme is the first international trading system for CO

2

emissions in the world, and has been in operation since 2005. Since January 1st 2008 it has applied not only to the 27 EU Member States, but also to the other three members of the European Economic Area – Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It currently covers over 11,000 installations in the energy and industrial sectors - which are collectively responsible for close to half of the EU’s emissions of CO

2 and 40% of its total

greenhouse gas emissions.

Value of allowances

Allowances in the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme are traded on a number of specialist markets across the EU. During the pilot phase (2005-2007) these allowances initially rose in price during the first year, to nearly €30 per tonne, before falling back in a steady decline to end the period at less than one cent per tonne, once emission data for the first year’s operation became available in April/May 2006. This clearly showed that most Member States (except for six, including Ireland) had over allocated.

During the current phase the Commission and the Member States applied the lessons learned from the over-allocation in phase 1 to significantly reduce the cap for phase 2 (2008-2012) with the result that allowances are currently trading at around €16 to €17 per tonne. In addition, any surplus allowances from phase 2 can now be carried forward to phase 3.

How has the ETS performed?

Data is now available for six years (2005-2010 inclusive) detailing both free allocation of allowances as well as the verified emissions for each installation in the EU ETS. This data is publicly available from the EU’s website at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ets/

Table 1 summarises the overall performance regarding emissions and free allocations of the 25 EU Member States, which have been covered since the beginning of the scheme, and compares these with similar data for Ireland (note the data for Ireland has been updated to reflect New Entrants during the 2005-2007 period).

Pilot phase (2005-2007)

It can be seen that, while greenhouse gas emissions for the EU25 as a whole increased over the three years (from 2002 million tonnes in 2005, to 2012 million tonnes in 2006 and finally to 2023 million tonnes in 2007), the opposite occurred in Ireland (with reductions from 22.44 million tonnes in 2005, to 21.71 million tonnes in 2006, and finally to 21.25 million tonnes in 2007).

EU 25 - Million tonnes CO2

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Verified Emissions 2,002 2,012 2,023 2,120 1,879 1,864

Allocations 2,096 2,072 2,079 1,958 1,974 1,988

Ireland - Million tonnes CO2

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Verified Emissions 22.44 21.71 21.25 20.38 17.22 17.36

Allocations 20.84 21.95 22.6 19.97 19.95 21.01

Table 1 – Verified Emissions and Allocations 2005 – 2010

Figure 1 EU-25


show that Ireland can comply with its Kyoto obligations (2008 – 2012) with regard to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but is predicted to breach its annual obligations under the EU 20

The EU Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme – A review of the first six years of operation

Sector Verified Emissions 2008-2010

Allocations 2008-2010

Excess Allocation 2008-2010

Cement 7,223,009 11,603,633 4,380,624

Powergen 39,221,637 38,514,589 -707,048

General 8,508,317 10,823,497 2,315,180

Table 2 – Verified Emissions vs Allocations in Ireland by Sector 2008-2010 (Mtonnes CO2)

Figure 2 Ireland

With the EU wide cap effectively non-existent due to the substantial over-allocation it is not surprising that there was no economic incentive to reduce emissions during a period of substantial growth. In Ireland’s case there were steady reductions, but whether this was solely as a result of a lower free allocation or due to other changes that were occurring in powergen and other sectors is not clear.

Kyoto phase (2008-2012)

We now have three complete year’s data for phase 2. What is evident is the major impact of the recession on industrial and powergen emissions across the EU as a whole, but particularly in Ireland. It also highlights the artificiality of the cap in that it is very difficult for the EU Commission to set this accurately

when such large variations can occur - whether due to major economic upsets (as in this case) or possibly even to natural disasters and weather events. However, due to the allowed carryover of excess allowances from phase 2 into phase 3 the price of allowances has held relatively steady, indicating that the economic driver of cap and trade remains in place.

Nonetheless, the major over-allocations to a significant number of installations which have occurred have produced what can be seen as windfall gains, which were never intended but which cannot be taken back under the rules of the scheme which are set down in EU law. Table 2 below gives a breakdown by NAP sector of verified emissions versus allocations for Ireland for the period 2008-2010 (A

complete listing for all installations is available from http://www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/air/etu/name,31044,en.html). It is apparent that the cement sector has been impacted most significantly by allocations which have exceeded verified emissions.

While it is clear that some companies have received substantially more allowances than their emissions subsequently proved to be, nonetheless the full picture will not be apparent until the end of the full five year trading period (2008-2012) as it is possible that increased emissions in the final two years might alter the overall picture.

The EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme has had to overcome a number of challenges in its first six years of operation. Undoubtedly lessons have been learned, some of which were applied as early as phase 2, with more taking effect from 2013. However while greenhouse gas emissions from those installations covered by the scheme have shown significant decreases in the last two years, it is as yet unclear whether this is solely due to the impact of the recession or whether the economic driver of the cost of allowances has actually encouraged real reductions. Nonetheless the “cap” will progressively reduce over the next decade with the inevitable effect of driving emissions down. In addition the importance of the EU ETS in delivering a price signal for carbon across a wide range of industries should be recognised.


EPA Projections of Greenhouse Gas Emissions to 2020

The latest EPA projections for greenhouse gas emissions for Ireland show that Ireland can comply with its Kyoto obligations (2008 – 2012) with regard to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but is predicted to breach its annual obligations under the EU 2020 target, from 2016 onwards. Total cumulative emissions for the period 2013-2020 are projected to be 4.5 to 30.1 million tonnes of CO

2e above target. This is according to greenhouse gas emission

projections released by the EPA in April 2011.

Whilst the projections show that Ireland will be able to meet its Kyoto Protocol commitment for 2008-2012, these projected reductions are a direct result of the current economic recession and economic outlook in the short term. In order to meet future targets, Ireland cannot rely on a recession and needs to transition to a low carbon economy.

Kyoto Protocol (2008-2012)

The projections indicate that Ireland can comply with its Kyoto obligations for the 2008-2012 period without any further purchase of credits. The projections show a total ‘distance to target’ for the Kyoto Protocol period (2008-2012) of between 6.3 and 8.1 million tonnes of CO

2e.

This compares to 12.7 to 15.0 million tonnes of CO2e in the previous estimates released in April

2010 projections. The projected reduction is attributed directly to the impact of the recession

Figure 1. Historical and projected greenhouse gas emissions (including forest sinks for the 2008 – 2012 period) for each scenario and the Kyoto Protocol target

on greenhouse gas emissions. Forest sinks are included in the calculation as allowed for under the Kyoto Protocol. Purchases of credits already made by the National Treasury Management Agency on behalf of Government, coupled with operation of the ETS, means that Ireland will comply with the Kyoto obligation.

EU 2020 Targets for non-ETS sector emissions

A second, and different, set of legally binding targets applies under the EU Commission’s ‘Energy and Climate Package’. Under this package, Ireland is required to deliver a 20% reduction in non-ETS greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 (relative to 2005 levels) and keep emissions below annual limits over the period 2013-2020. These non-ETS emissions come from agriculture, transport, residential and waste activities, and exclude the industrial activities which are covered under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Projections indicate that Ireland will breach its annual limit by 2016, in the best case scenario, and exceed its cumulative target for emissions over the 2013-2020 period by between 4.5 and 30.1 million tonnes of CO

2e.

It is clear from the EPA’s projections that the implementation of all existing and planned measures will not be sufficient to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the required levels by 2020. Hence, now is the time to make further planned reductions to ensure Ireland does not breach its target in 2016, as projected.

Greenhouse gas emissions and removals related to land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) are currently not accounted for in the 2020 projections as they are not included in the EU 2020 target. In Ireland, forest sinks are projected to provide a removal of 4.8 million

tonnes of CO2 in 2020, which illustrates the

important role that LULUCF could play in reducing emissions in Ireland.

Projected Sectoral trends

Transport and agriculture are projected to account for 75% of total non-ETS emissions by 2020. This illustrates the important role that both transport and agriculture will have to play in developing mitigation options for reducing emissions in Ireland and for meeting our 2020 EU targets.

Growth in transport emissions is projected to slow significantly in comparison with historical growth rates. This is attributed to a slowdown in economic growth, which particularly impacts freight transport, and a saturation in car ownership levels as emigration increases.

Whilst agriculture is key to Ireland’s economic growth, employing 150,000 people and producing annual exports of more than €7 billion, emissions from the sector are projected to increase by 4% between 2009 and 2020, under the assumption that the Food Harvest 2020 targets will be achieved in full and EU milk quota will be removed.

The EPA will continue to update and refine GHG projections to take account of socioeconomic, technological and policy developments, to update key assumptions and to take account of better data and better models as they become available.

The EPA Projections of greenhouse gas emissions to 2020 are available on the EPA website at: www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/air/airemissions/.

Figure 2: With Measures and With Additional Measures greenhouse gas emissions projections and comparison with the linear reduction pathway required between 2013 and 2020.


The EPA has sponsored a special award for the best environmental project at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition each year for the last 12 years. It is awarded to the project that best demonstrates a contribution to the protection and improvement of the natural environment. This year a team from Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty, Cork, won this prestigious award for their fascinating proposal to use sea lettuce to make briquettes.

The group - Muireasa Carroll, Mairead Kingston and Denise Hurley - observed that there was a problem surrounding the deposition of unwanted sea lettuce, or ulva lactua, by the sea on the beaches in the Clonakilty area. This sea lettuce is unsightly and smells foul as it decays - so the beaches have become inaccessible for public use. It has even resulted in Inchydoney beach losing its Blue Flag. Cork County Council has been actively trying to alleviate the sea lettuce problem by removing it from local beaches, and the Young Scientist team - conscious that the issue was affecting tourist numbers to the area and that the sea lettuce was proving problematic for local anglers, surfers and fisherman - decided to look at the problem more closely.

The girls were curious to see if there was a worthwhile way in which the sea lettuce could be used which could potentially generate income for the area. They decided to look at the viability of using sea lettuce to generate energy in the form of briquettes. They gathered fresh sea lettuce from the local beaches in the area, dried it and compressed it.

They carried out tests on their briquettes to establish their efficiency and quality and they compared these figures to traditional peat briquettes. The Gross Calorific Value of their sea lettuce briquettes was 12.34MJ/kg. The calorific value of peat is 14-20 MJ/kg. Hence, the sea lettuce briquettes had a lower calorific energy value. Interestingly, the sea briquettes reached a higher temperature and burned for longer than peat briquettes. (A peat briquette reached a peak temperature of 94°C, burned for 45 minutes and stayed kindling for 1 hour and 45 minutes, but a sea lettuce briquette reached a peak temperature of 280°C, burned for 30 minutes and stayed kindling for 3 hours.) In this way the group found that sea lettuce briquettes were in fact more efficient and of a higher quality than peat briquettes.

Winners of the EPA Award at the Young Scientist Exhibition, Muireasa, Denise and Mairead – with Annette Cahalane from the EPA.

In addition, they found that sea lettuce briquettes are also significantly more environmentally friendly than peat briquettes. As a biomass fuel, sea lettuce is carbon neutral as, when burned, it only releases whatever carbon dioxide it has absorbed as it was growing. This is in contrast to fossil fuels which release the carbon dioxide they took in thousands of years ago, thus adding additional carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

The girls also analysed their briquettes’ composition. The elements present in the sea lettuce briquettes are Nitrogen (3.49%); Carbon Dioxide (30.22%); Hydrogen (7.25%) and Sulphur Dioxide (2.72%). Interestingly, the sulphur dioxide and nitrogen levels of the briquettes are low, even though it is the excess levels of these elements in the sea that caused the surge in growth of the algal bloom of sea lettuce in the first place!

The team not only won the EPA award for their project, but also a category award for Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences and the Intel Student award. The Intel prize meant the group had the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles in May to display their project at the International Science and Engineering Fair. They had a fantastic stay and they brought home 4th prize in their category of Environmental Management.

The EPA is part of a sea lettuce task-force that includes the Department of Agriculture, Cork County Council, The Marine Institute, The HSE, The National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Environment. A report from this task force estimates that anything between 1,500 and 3,000 tonnes of the sea lettuce would need to be removed, so it seems these Young Scientists’ proposal is very timely.

Sea Lettuce: A Burning Issue in the Clonakilty Area

STRIVEEnvironmental Protection Agency ResearchProgramme 2007 - 2013


STRIVEEnvironmental Protection Agency Programme2007-2013

44115 EPA masthead issue 1.indd 1 26/03/2008 15:38:10

STRIVE FEATURECryptosporidium Reference Unit funded by EPA & DAFFlThe Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mr. Simon Coveney, visited the Backweston Laboratories on 9th June 2011 to view the facilities and open the Cryptosporidium Reference Unit. This facility was funded by the EPA and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF), for a two-year period to:

• Provide comprehensive reference facilities for Cryptosporidium at Backweston,

• Prepare a comprehensive standard operating procedure manual to cover all aspects for the monitoring of Cryptosporidium in water.

• Determine the need for a national water testing service and provide a cost benefit analysis.

• Evaluate the potential significance of emerging pathogens and chemical contaminants.

• Determine the presence, abundance, viability and species identity of Cryptosporidium oocysts in a representative number of water supplies.

The project is led by Dr Theo DeWaal (UCD) and includes Carolyn Read and Jenny Pender (UCD) as well as Dr Tom Murphy (DAFF). Collaborators include the UK’s Cryptosporidium Reference Unit, IT Sligo and the Central Laboratory in Dublin City Council.

There is currently no laboratory in Ireland providing molecular analysis of Cryptosporidium isolates from outbreaks of human or animal disease, or from environmental sources. Multi-disciplinary collaboration is essential to addressing gaps in the national diagnostic and typing services required for controlling this zoonotic organism. It is hoped that this initiative will lead to national reference facilities being available for Cryptosporidium, providing rapid and reliable genotyping information on isolates from various sources and facilitating the development of an epidemiological map of the occurrence of cryptosporidiosis in Ireland.

Cleaner Greener Production Programme: Experiences, Impacts and Outcomes

A recently published report from a study in NUI Galway examines the impact of participation in EPA’s Cleaner Greener Production Programme. The report presents the results of a survey of past and present participants, across all four phases of the EPA’s Cleaner Greener Production Programme (CGPP). The study also

EPA STRIVE NewsThe Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for the Environment (STRIVE) programme

Pictured at the opening of the Cryptosporidium Reference Unit at DAFF’s Backweston Laboratory Complex were Michael Gunn,(DAFF); Carolyn Read (UCD); Simon Coveneyn (Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) and Dara Lynott (EPA).




44115 EPA masthead issue 1.indd 1 26/03/2008 15:38:10EPA STRIVE NewsThe Science, Technology, Research and Innovation for the Environment (STRIVE) programme

collected data on the longer term impact of CGPP participation, asking previous participants about ongoing achievements in technological change, environmental awareness, as well as economic and resource savings. Key findings of the study include:

- 76% of organisations continue to see a benefit and maintain their CGPP projects.

- 65% of organisations identified improved competitive advantage from their CGPP project.

- 81% of organisations see changed managerial environmental awareness.

- 71% of organisations saying environmental issues continue to be influential

The report is available for download at http://www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/research/tech/

Nano-Scale Pollutants: Fate in Irish Surface and Drinking Water Regulatory Systems

EPA-funded researchers Niall O’Brien and Enda Cummins of University College Dublin received significant international recognition of their ongoing work in the area of nanoparticle risk assessment with the recent announcement of their paper “Nano-Scale Pollutants: Fate in Irish Surface and Drinking Water Regulatory Systems” as the Human Health Risk Assessment Paper of the Year 2010. The paper forms part of the PhD work of Niall O’Brien which was funded

by EPA and it was published in the journal, Human and Ecological Risk Assessment (16(4): 847–872).

During the selection process the paper was shortlisted by the HERA Editorial Board and selected as the eventual winner by the HERA’s senior editors. In their evaluation the HERA Senior Editors state “This paper evaluates in great detail the presence and potential health significance of several nanocomponents present in general commerce. Aside from intense interest in the issue of nanomaterials in the scientific and popular press, this study is an excellent example of complete treatment of a question from detailed historical background through assessment of practical risk”.

Dr Cummins stated “It is a great honour to have this paper selected for this prestigious award, it is a great achievement and recognition from international peers of the work being conducted in University College Dublin in relation to nanoparticles risk assessment”.

RECENT STRIVE REPORTS

A brief selection of some recent STRIVE reports is given below. Reports are being published continually and a full catalogue of all STRIVE reports can found at http://www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/research/.

- Neuro-Fuzzy Models for use in River Basin District Management - Ahmed Nasr & Michael Bruen (University College Dublin)

- Industrial applications of membrane technology in Ireland: a review - Michael O’Dea & Noel Duffy (Cork Institute of Technology)

- Recombinant DNA approaches to enhance the activity of the pathway for the degradation of the toxic pollutant styrene in the bioreactor isolate Pseudomonas putida CA-3: a biotechnologically significant metabolic route, Mark M. O’Mahony et al. (University College Cork)

- Nutrient and Ecosystem Dynamics in Ireland’s only marine nature reserve (NEIDIN) - Mark Jessopp (University College Cork)

- Evaluating the Ecological Impacts of Cultivating Genetically Modified Herbicide Tolerant (GMHT) Oilseed Rape and Maize - Ewen Mullins & Marcus Collier (Teagasc)

- Air Pollution in Cork Harbour, Ireland Environmental Linkages of In-Port Ship Emissions of Particulate Matter, their Chemical Analysis and Effects on Health - Ian P. O’ Connor et al. (University College Cork)





UPCOMING EVENTSNational FP7-ENV Information Day 2011The next FP7-Environment National Information Day is being planned for October in Dublin. As before, the aims of this year’s event are to disseminate the contents of the current relevant FP7 calls, to encourage networking and to look forward to future calls & FP8. Further information on and registration details will be made available through the EPA website and the FP7 Ireland website (http://www.fp7ireland.ie).

2011 Fellowship & Scholarship SeminarAs part of Science Week (13th – 20th November), the EPA will be holding its annual Fellowships and Scholarships Seminar in Dublin. The seminar will include presentations of EPA-funded post-graduate and post-doctoral researchers across a broad range of environmental topics including Climate Change; Environment & Health; Waste Management; Biodiversity; and Water Quality.

RECENT EVENTS21st Irish Environmental Researchers’ ColloquiumEnviron, the Irish Environmental Researchers’ Colloquium, is the largest (and longest running) annual meeting of environmental researchers in Ireland. It was held this year in University College Cork (UCC) in April and attracted over 300 researchers and delegates. The conference is targeted

at delegates from a wide variety of disciplines, and in a time when science, engineering and environmental science is becoming increasingly fragmented and specialised, it provides a unique opportunity for specialists to learn what is happening outside their own area.

Professor Michael Depledge (Director, European Centre for Environment and Human Health) delivered a thought provoking keynote address on the topic of “Health and the Value of Nature”. Professor Depledge talked about the importance of the natural environment to human health outlining evidence from his research that close interaction by people with their natural

environment (whether it be a walk on the park, cycling in the countryside or a swim at the beach) has demonstrable beneficial health effects.

At the plenary session EPA Director, Laura Burke discussed the contribution of environmental research to informing environmental policy in Ireland particularly in the areas of climate change and water protection, and emphasised the importance of maintaining capacity and investment in environmental research. John Mullins (CEO of Bord Gáis) spoke about the opportunities presented by the climate change challenge in terms of the green economy and renewable energy.

Professor Michael Depledge addresses the delegates at the Environmental Researchers’ Colloquium





The winner of the best oral presentation was Avril Challoner from Trinity College Dublin on her research “Indoor outdoor air quality relationship in an urban environment.” Ms Cahlloner’s work is looking at the relationship between exposure of staff to specific air pollutants in Irish work-environments and factors such as building design and ventilation systems.

A new initiative for 2011 was a workshop on science communication which proved very popular. The workshop was facilitated by Irish Times correspondent Professor William J. Reville (UCC) and Dr Brian Quinn, an EPA-funded researcher in GMIT.

Professor Depledge’s talk can be viewed at the web-link below: http://interactive.ucc.ie/test/new/include/sciencelectures-current.html

North-South Seminar on External Funding for Environmental ScienceEAs part of the cooperative working arrangements established through the North-South Ministerial Council, the EPA and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency held a seminar in March to promote joint access to EU funding for environmental science in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The specific objectives for the day were to:

• Inform and update participants on EU funding opportunities and processes;

• Promote the development of North-South networks and;

• Identify barriers to North-South

working and propose actions to overcome these.

INTERNATIONAL CONTEXTFramework Programme 7

A number of FP7 calls have been published across a range of areas of relevance to environmental researchers including:

• Coping with climate change

• Sustainable use and management of land and seas

• Improving resource efficiency

• Protecting citizens from environmental hazards

• Mobilising environmental knowledge for policy, industry and society

Full details of these calls will be available from http://www.fp7ireland.ie.

Catalogue of Irish expertise in environmental researchThe Catalogue of Irish Expertise in Environmental Research is an online tool to support researchers and enterprises in finding appropriate partners for FP7 activities. The catalogue contains a large database of potential partners which can be searched by keywords, names etc. There

are now 182 profiles in the Catalogue providing details of the skills and experience of people and organisations interested in participating in FP7.

RESEARCH RESOURCESEPA Research News on Twitter:Updates and announcements from the EPA research programme are available through the EPA Research News Twitter site. Follow us on http://twitter.com/EPAResearchNews

Web Resources- EPA Research Publications:

www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/research/

- ERC Environmental Research Data Archive website: http://erc.epa.ie/safer/

- National Soil Database Archive website: http://erc.epa.ie/nsdb/

- Cleaner Greener Production Programme website: www.cleanerproduction.ie

- FP7 website: www.fp7Ireland.com

- Online Catalogue of Irish Expertise in Environmental Research: www.epa.ie/researchandeducation/research/funding/fp7/catalogueofirishexpertise/

- SKEP website: www.skep-network.eu/

- ERA-ENVHealth website: www.era-envhealth.eu/


Overview of Bathing Water Quality in 2010

A total of 131 designated bathing waters, comprising 122 seawater and nine freshwater, were monitored by local authorities throughout the 2010 bathing season. The results of samples analysed were assessed against EU standards:

• Compliance with stricter guide values indicating water of good quality status

• Compliance with minimum mandatory values indicating water of sufficient quality status

• Noncompliance with mandatory values equating to poor water quality status.

During 2010, the quality of Ireland’s bathing waters remained high with 97% of bathing areas (127 of 131 areas) complying with the minimum EU mandatory values, and achieving sufficient water quality status.

From 2009 to 2010 the proportion of bathing areas of sufficient water quality increased by 4% (Table 1). Of the four bathing areas that failed to achieve sufficient water quality status, two were seawater and two were freshwater as follows:

Seawater

• Sutton Burrow Beach (Dublin Fingal) • Clifden beach (Co. Galway)

Freshwater

• Lilliput, Lough Ennel (Co. Westmeath) • Ballyallia (Co. Clare).

90% of bathing areas (118 of 131 areas) also complied with the stricter guide values and achieved good water quality status. From 2009 to 2010 the proportion of bathing areas of good water quality increased by 8%.

These achievements in bathing water quality places Ireland 5th in the ranking of bathing water quality in Europe, just behind Cyprus, Croatia, Malta and Greece.

Of particular note, all of the designated bathing areas within the following ten local authority areas achieved good water quality status: Donegal County Council, Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Galway City Council, Leitrim County Council, Louth County Council, Mayo County Council, Meath County Council, Sligo County Council and Waterford County Council.

The improvement in overall water quality in 2010 could be, at least partly, attributed to the drier and sunnier weather during the bathing season, with rainfall totals near normal and sunshine totals above normal everywhere.

While the overall level of bathing water quality remains acceptable, there was a slight decline in the number of freshwater bathing areas achieving sufficient and good status.

Seawater Freshwater Overall

2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010

Number of bathing areas 122 122 9 9 131 131

Number of bathing areas achieving sufficient water quality

114 120 8 7 122 127

Percentage of bathing waters of sufficient water quality

93% 98% 89% 78% 93% 97%

Number of bathing areas achieving good water quality

102 113 6 5 108 118

Percentage of bathing waters of good water quality

84% 93% 67% 55% 82% 90%

Table 1 Comparison of Bathing Water Quality Status in 2009 and 2010

The bathing water in Lilliput (Lough Ennel) is of particular concern because it has been classified as poor for the past three years. Adequate measures need to be taken to improve the water quality of the bathing areas that have declined in quality or fail to meet regulatory standards. Furthermore, one seawater bathing area, Clifden, has been classified as poor for the past six years and requires an appropriate waste water treatment facility and other adequate measures if the bathing area is to comply with EU standards.

The water quality status of 23 bathing areas changed between 2009 and 2010 as detailed in Table 2. Improvements in water quality were noted at 17 bathing areas which are to be commended. Deteriorations in water quality occurred at six bathing areas.

EPA Director General, Dr Mary Kelly, presents the 2010 Bathing Water Report to Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr Phil Hogan T.D., during his recent visit to EPA Headquarters.


A new Directive concerning the management of bathing water quality (Directive 2006/7/EC) came into force on 24th March 2006, and will repeal the existing 1976 Directive with effect from 31 December 2014. The new 2006 Directive gives stronger focus on the protection of public health, a proactive approach to the management of bathing water quality and greater public participation. It establishes stricter microbiological standards for two new parameters, Intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli.

The 2006 Directive also establishes a new classification system for bathing water quality based on four classifications - ‘poor’, ‘sufficient’, ‘good’ and ‘excellent’ - and generally requires that a classification of ‘sufficient’ be achieved by 2015 for all bathing waters. The classification of bathing waters will be determined, in general, on the basis of a four-year period instead of the monitoring results from a single bathing season. This means that the classification will give a balanced rating and will be less susceptible to bad weather or one-off incidents.

The Bathing Water Directive is implemented in Ireland through the Bathing Water Quality Regulations, 2008 (S.I. No. 79 of 2008). Implementation of these Regulations commenced earlier this year and has resulted in the following new provisions:

• Bathing Water Profiles: Local authorities are required to prepare profiles for each of their identified bathing waters. These were required to be prepared - for the first time - by 24th March of this year. The purpose of the bathing water profile is to provide a description of the bathing site and its surrounding area, along with the identification and assessment of causes of pollution that may affect the quality of the bathing water and impair bather’s health. If a risk of short-term pollution is identified, local authorities are required to include in the profiles details in relation to the anticipated nature, frequency and duration of the pollution event and provide a description of management measures taken and/or proposed to be taken and a timescale for their elimination. Local authorities are then required to review and update them at specified frequencies.

• Identification of bathing waters: Local authorities are required (on or before 24th March each year) to identify bathing

waters in relation to the forthcoming bathing season and to notify the EPA of the bathing waters so identified. This occurred for the first time in March of this year. Local authorities are also required to ensure that appropriate measures have been taken in relation to public participation in the identification process. In 2011, a total of 135 bathing waters were identified by the relevant local authorities, of which five are newly identified bathing waters and 130 are previously identified bathing waters. The five new identified bathing waters are Grattan Road Beach and Ballyloughane Beach in Galway, Carrowniskey, Louisburgh in Mayo and Dunmore Beach and Streedagh Beach in Sligo.

Kirsty Nolan of the EPA explains the Splash website to President Mary McAleese

Recent Developments in Implementation of the New Bathing Water Directive

Kirsty Nolan (EPA) demonstrates the Splash website to Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, during his recent visit to EPA Headquarters

• Monitoring and Assessment: Local authorities are required to establish a monitoring calendar for each identified bathing water and submit the monitoring calendars to the EPA by 24th March each year. This occurred for the first time in March of this year. From 2011 onwards, two new microbiological parameters Intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli will be monitored and used to assess the water quality status of bathing waters. Local authorities are required to take a minimum of five samples per bathing season, one sample before the start of the bathing season (between 22nd and 31st May) and a minimum of four samples distributed throughout the bathing season (from 1st June to 15th September). There will be a transition period (2011-2013) when water quality will be assessed using standards for equivalent parameters in the 1992 Quality of Bathing Water Regulations and classified as good, sufficient or poor water status accordingly. From 2014 onwards, bathing waters will be classified on the basis of a four-year period (2011-2014) according to the limits specified in the 2006 Regulations.

Throughout the bathing season, local authorities upload the results of all their latest monitoring results onto SPLASH, (www.bathingwater.ie). The Splash website provides the latest information on all designated bathing waters in the around Ireland. If you’re planning a trip to any of these places you can log onto the website and see the bathing water results during the June – September bathing season. The website also gives details of blue flag status, current weather and tidal information, details about the compliance history of each bathing water, along with aerial photography, so that the people will have the information they need to help ensure safe bathing.

During recent visits to EPA Headquarters in Wexford, both the President of Ireland Mary McAleese, and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr Phil Hogan T.D., were given demonstrations of the Splash website.

Pollutant Release and Transfer Register


The EU Commission has published the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) for the reporting year 2009 on the E-PRTR website: http://prtr.ec.europa.eu/

The Register tracks annual data on 91 specific substances or pollutants released and recorded by industrial and public facilities, above specified reporting thresholds, to air, water, land as well as waste transferred off-site. Data from Ireland was submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is the third annual E-PRTR data submission.

There is a requirement to develop an Irish National PRTR website which is an important milestone towards the Irish Government’s ratification of the 2003 Kiev Protocol. The Protocol places an obligation on Ireland to set up a National PRTR website that is accessible to members of the public. The Irish National PRTR website is in development at the moment and should be available by the end of July 2011.

The key findings of Ireland’s 2009 E-PRTR submission shows:

• 336 facilities in Ireland are covered by E-PRTR reporting. This compares with national PRTR reporting numbers of 689. These include facilities from power generation, wastewater treatment, chemicals, intensive livestock, minerals & cement. Also included are large food and drink companies and waste sites. Figure 1 provides a synopsis of the number of facilities reporting pollutant releases and waste transfers as required under the E-PRTR Regulations by Year (2007 to 2009).

• Releases to air were dominated by facilities from the energy, minerals & cement and chemical sectors. Overall, the data shows a continued downward trend (since 2007) in emissions of key substances or pollutants to air; carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, methane, ammonia and non-methane volatile organic carbons. (See Figure 2).

• Wastewater treatment plants were the top contributors to the total amount of nutrients (i.e. total nitrogen and total phosphorus) released to waters in 2009.

• The tonnage of hazardous waste transferred off-site from E-PRTR facilities decreased by 55% since 2008, to 220,428 tonnes. This is most likely a result of the economic

downturn. The waste transfer stations and chemical sector contributed 52% and 36% respectively, of hazardous waste transfers.

• The tonnage of non-hazardous waste from all sectors decreased by 6%, to 3.28 million tonnes.

A summary report of the Ireland’s pollutant and transfer register for 2009 can be found at http://www.epa.ie/downloads/publications/enforcement

Figure 1: Synopsis of the number of facilities reporting pollutant releases and waste transfers as required under the E-PRTR Regulations by Year (2007 to 2009)

Figure 2: Annual Air Emission Trends of Pollutants Reportable to Europe.


Waste Water Discharge Licences issued from 1st March to 31st May 2011

Carlow County CouncilRathoe D0240-01

Wexford County CouncilKilmuckridge D0161-01

Limerick County CouncilGlin D0504-01Oola D0505-01

Kildare County Council Derrinturn D0244-01 Allenwood D0493-01

Kerry County Council Dingle D0185-01

North Tipperary County Council Cloughjordan D0475-01

Wicklow County Council Enniskerry and Environs D0088-01

Carlow County Council Muinebheag and Leighlinbridge D0090-01

Cork County Council Northern Division Charleville and Environs D0204-01

Fingal County Council Malahide D0021-01

Cork County Council Western Division Union Hall D0469-01 Castletownbere D0297-01

Mayo County Council Claremorris D0071-01

Sligo County Council Ballymote D0094-01

Tyndall Conference and EPA Climate Change Lecture

The EPA, in association with the Royal Irish Academy, will host a conference from September 28th to 30th 2011 in Dublin Castle, to mark 150 years since the publication of the seminal work of John Tyndall. The conference will highlight Tyndall’s achievements, and examine developments in key areas of climate science, current scientific issues and their implications. It will also celebrate the increasing recognition of Tyndall’s work and reputation.

To complement the conference, the EPA will also host the next in the series of EPA Climate Change Lectures, on 27th September. The speaker, Richard Somerville, will discuss Tyndall’s work and his contribution to climate science.

The work of John Tyndall revolutionised science and created entirely new experimental techniques and scientific disciplines. He was born in 1820 in Leighlinbridge, Carlow but spent most of

Prominent 19th century physicist John Tyndall

his working life in London, and travelling the world popularising science. A true renaissance man, he wrote on everything from ‘Scientific use of the imagination’, to trying to discover why the sky was blue – which he successfully explained, and to this day the scattering of light by particles in the atmosphere that causes this is known as the ‘Tyndall Effect’. He died in 1893, by which time he had been recognised by his peers as one of the great public figures of nineteenth century science.

His work on infra-red spectroscopy - highlighted in his February 1861 paper “On the Absorption and Radiation of Heat by Gases and Vapours, and on the Physical Connexion of Radiation, Absorption, and Conduction” - served to form the basis of our understanding of the Earth’s climate system and current awareness of the threats of global warming and climate change. In this, he is ranked with the greatest physicists of the 19th and 20th century – “Fourier, Tyndall, Arrhenius, Kirchoff, Planck and Einstein”, (Ray Pierrehumbert, Physics Today, Jan 2011).

Since the publication of Tyndall’s 1861 paper, the sciences of atmospheric radiative transfer and climate have developed and deepened our understanding of the world we live in, and our impact upon it.

For more information, and to register for the Tyndall conference, visit http://tyndallconference2011.org/.


Five cases initiated by the EPA were concluded in the period 1st March 2011 to 8th June 2011. Three of these were District Court cases, taken under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 (as amended) and the EPA successfully obtained two final orders against a piggery facility, in the High Court, and an unlicensed peat extraction facility, in the Circuit Court. An interim ruling was given in a sixth case, which is ongoing.

EPA Prosecutes Harvest Lodge Pigs Limited

On the 16th May 2011 at Birr District Court, Harvest Lodge Pigs Limited pleaded guilty to a charge brought by the EPA in relation to an offence under the Environmental Protection Agency Acts 1992 (as amended) for breaches of its IPPC Licence (Reg. No. P0412-01).

The Company admitted breaching a condition of its Licence by failing to submit to the EPA:

1. A summary table of customer farmers receiving slurry/manure.

2. A map showing the location of farms where slurry/manure may be recovered.

3. A declaration by a suitably qualified person that lands for recovery of slurry/manure had been inspected and were suitable for land spreading.

4. They also failed to maintain a Nutrient Management Plan on site.

On hearing details of the offence Judge Staines adjourned the matter for sentencing to 18th July 2011, by which time EPA costs totalling €2,565 are to be paid by the Company.

This prosecution was taken following a site inspection carried out by an inspector from the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement.

EPA Prosecutes Swords Laboratories

On the 17th May 2011 at Swords District Court, Swords Laboratories pleaded guilty to four charges brought by the EPA in relation to offences under the Environmental Protection Agency Acts 1992 (as amended) for breaches of its IPPC Licence (Reg. No. P0014-04).

The Company admitted breaching conditions of its Licence by:

1. Failing to notify the Agency and the Water Services Authority of two incidents which occurred on 2nd August 2010 and 6th January 2011, as soon as was practicable after the occurrence thereof, and failing to evaluate the environmental pollution caused by the incidents.

2. Failing to ensure that waste, in advance of transfer to another person, was classified, packaged and labelled in accordance with National, European and other standards which were in force in relation to such labelling.

3. Sending waste off site for recovery or disposal which was not transported by an authorised waste contractor.

On hearing details of the offences the Judge imposed fines of \5,000. EPA costs of \5,213 were also awarded.

This prosecution was taken following a number of site inspections carried out by inspectors from the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement and following incidents which occurred at this facility.

EPA Prosecutes McCarren & Company Limited

On the 26th May 2011 at Cavan District Court, McCarren & Company Limited pleaded guilty to four charges brought by the EPA in relation to offences under the Environmental Protection Agency Acts 1992 (as amended) for breaches of its IPPC Licence (Reg. No. P0171-01).

The Company admitted breaching conditions of its Licence by:

1. Causing specified emissions to sewer which exceeded the emission limit values as set out in the licence.

2. Failing to establish procedures to ensure that corrective action would be taken should the requirements of the licence not be fulfilled.

3. Failing to provide onsite the equipment specified in Schedule 1(iii) Effluent Treatment Control of the licence.

4. Failing to ensure that all automatic monitors and samplers were functioning at all times when the activity was being carried out.

On hearing details of the offences Judge McBride imposed a fine of €1,000 on the first charge and took the other charges into account. EPA and Cavan County Council costs of €8,000 were also awarded.

This prosecution was taken following a number of site inspections and an audit carried out by inspectors from the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement, and following an incident which was notified to the EPA by Cavan County Council.

EPA –v- Mr. Rory O’Brien & Ms. Monica O’Brien T/A Rory & Monica O’Brien Pig Enterprises P0409-01

On 11/3/11 Judge Michael Hanna granted an Interim Order restraining the respondents from causing or permitting any polluting matter to enter, lie on, or fall upon or into any soil, ground or water. On 03/06/2011 a perpetual injunction against the respondents was granted by Mr. Justice McMenamin. In total there were eight court appearances.

EPA –v- Mr. Thomas Deegan (Timoney Bog)

On 31/05/11 the EPA initiated injunction proceedings against Mr. Thomas Deegan, whereby he gave an undertaking not to cut any turf or do anything with turf already cut other than to turn it, pending the final outcome of the proceedings. On 8/6/11 the EPA was granted a final order by Mr. Justice Teehan, accepting an undertaking offered by the Respondents not to cut, interfere or extract peat, and a further undertaking not to carry out any works whatever in relation to drainage of the bog lands referred to in the first undertaking. The Judge awarded costs to the EPA. There were two court appearances.

EPA –v- Neiphin Trading Ltd (Reg. No. W0047-02)

On 3/3/11 Mr. Justice Edwards ruled on the preliminary issue against the EPA stating that national legislation makes no provision for fall back orders against Directors. On 7/3/11 the case was adjourned to 18/3/11 where Mr. Justice Edwards awarded costs to the Directors. The costs are reserved to the final hearing of the substantive case. The substantive case has been relisted on 04/07/11.

EPA Prosecutions


Alimentary Pharmabiotic CentreBioSciences InstituteUniversity College CorkCork

G0415-01

Pfizer Ireland PharmaceuticalsDublin Sterile Operations Pottery Road Dun Laoighaire County Dublin

G0417-01

School of Biology and Environmental ScienceUniversity College DublinBelfieldDublin 4

G0421-01

National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) Fosters AvenueMount MerrionBlackrockCo. Dublin

G0420-01

Dr Thomae Kakouli-DuarteMolecular Ecology and Nematode Research GroupEnviroCOREDepartment of Science and HealthInstitute of TechnologyKilkenny RoadCarlow

G0422-01

Dr Adrian BrackenSmurfit Institute of GeneticsTrinity College DublinDublin 2

G0424-01

IPPC Licences issued from 1 March to 31 May 2011

GMO Consents Issued from 1st March 2011 to 31st May 2011

EnergyEndesa Ireland Limited (Great Island)Great Island Generating StationCampileNew RossCounty Wexford

P0606-03

Food & DrinkShannonside Milk Products LimitedConnacht Gold Dairy IngredientsDublin RoadBallaghaderreenCounty Roscommon

P0802-02

Dairygold Co-Operative Society LimitedDairygold Food IngredientsMogeelyCounty Cork

P0817-01

Intensive AgricultureMr Donal MulcahyBallintober EastNewcastlewestCounty Limerick

P0898-01

Mr Pat MulcahyDrominmacturloughNewcastlewestCounty Limerick

P0902-01

Mr Kevin DoreBallykenny StrandCounty Limerick

P0904-01

Surface CoatingsHollister ULCRehinsFoxford RoadBallinaCounty Mayo

P0918-01

Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI)The National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science (NCBES)Orbsen BuildingNational University of IrelandGalway

G0427-01

UCC Microbiology DepartmentUniversity College CorkCollege RoadCork

G0426-01

Smurfit Institute of GeneticsSchool of Genetics and MicrobiologyTrinity College DublinDublin 2

G0432-01

Microbiology Department & Alimentary Pharmabiotic CentreUniversity College CorkCork

G0425-01

Centre for Neurotherapeutics ResearchResearch and Engineering BuildingDublin City UniversityDublin 9

G0431-01

Institute of ImmunologyNational University of Ireland MaynoothMaynoothCo Kildare

G0435-01

Dumping at Sea Permits issued 1st March to 30th June 2011Arklow Harbour CommissionersHarbour OfficeArklow,County WicklowLocation of loading: Arklow HarbourLocation of dumping: Southwestern Irish Sea, 0.6 Km offshore from Arklow

S0002-01

Waterford City CouncilBishops PalaceThe Mall, WaterfordLocation of loading: Waterford MarinaLocation of dumping: (A) Waterford Marina(B) Eastern Celtic Sea, 0.85 km offshore from Hook Head, Co. Wexford.

S0006-01

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HeadquartersPO Box 3000, Johnstown Castle Estate County Wexford, IrelandCeanncheatrúBosca Poist 3000, Eastát Chaisleán Bhaile Sheáin Contae Loch Garman, Éire

T: +353 53 9160600F: +353 53 9160699

Regional InspectorateMcCumiskey House, RichviewClonskeagh Road, Dublin 14, IrelandCigireacht Réigiúnach, Teach Mhic ChumascaighDea-Radharc, Bóthar Cluain SceachBaile Átha Cliath 14, Éire

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Regional InspectorateInniscarra, County Cork, IrelandCigireacht Réigiúnach, Inis CaraContae Chorcaí, Éire

T: +353 21 487 5540F: +353 21 487 5545

Regional InspectorateJohn Moore Road, CastlebarCounty Mayo, IrelandCigireacht Réigiúnach, Bóthar Sheán de MórdhaCaisleán an Bharraigh, Contae Mhaigh Eo, Éire

T: +353 94 904 8400F: +353 94 902 1934

Regional Inspectorate, Seville Lodge, Callan Road, Kilkenny, IrelandCigireacht Réigiúnach, Bóthar ChallainnCill Chainnigh, Éire

T: +353 56 7796 700F: +353 56 7796 798

Regional InspectorateThe Glen, Monaghan, IrelandCigireacht Réigiúnach, An GleannMuineachán, Éire

T: +353 47 77600F: +353 47 84987

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The following contributed to this issue of the EPA Newsletter:

Mary Kelly; Ken Macken; Maria Martin; Bernard Hyde; Anthea Southey; Patrick Morris; Orla Harrington; Kirsty Nolan; Conor Clenaghan; Breda Breen; Gráinne Oglesby; Liz Leacy; Noeleen Roche; Shane Colgan; Annette Cahalane; Emily Williamson; Mary Rose Molloy & Niamh Hatchell

epanews - environmental protection agency, ireland :: … consents issued 19 ippc licences issued 19...

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