Last week, I reported that ‘leachate’ from Dublin’s biggest dump was being channelled through Dublin 15 and discharged at the Phoenix Park train station. Please see below the parliamentary reply received yesterday from the Minister for the Environment:

Questions Nos. 362 and 370

Chun an Aire Comhshaoil, Oidhreachta agus Rialtais Áitiúil:
To the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government:

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, due to apparent overcapacity in Fingal’s waste disposal system, and in advance of the Portrane WTTP coming on-stream,if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Fingal County Council is transporting leachate from the Balleally landfill in North Dublin on a regular basis to discharge into the foul sewer adjacent to the Phoenix Park train station in Dublin 15; the safety precautions that are being taken to protect local residents, flora and fauna; if batch testing is being carried out on discharged leachate; if radioactive isotopes, asbestos fibres, dioxins, prions for Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, mercury, chromium, lead, cadmium, chlorides, cyanides, ammonia, phenols, xylene have been screened for or found, and the concentrations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– Joan Burton.

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that tankers are discharging leachate from Fingal County Council landfill into the main foul sewer in proximity to the new Phoenix Park Railway Station off the Navan Road, Dublin 15; if batches of the leachate are tested on a regular basis; if there is an Environment Protection Agency licence in place; if noxious substances and gases have been identified as prevailing winds bring very unpleasant smells to local residential neighbourhoods; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– Joe Costello.

For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 30th March, 2010.

Ref No’s: 13699/10 and 13848/10

REPLY

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Gormley):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 362 and 370 together.

From enquiries my Department has made I understand that contracted tankers are carrying out the temporary and supervised discharge of leachate from Fingal County Council’s licenced landfill at Balleally into the main foul sewer at the location in question. This effluent is entering an enclosed foul sewer system from where it is carried to the waste-water treatment plant for full treatment. The Council has indicated that as this discharge is being supervised by Council staff it considers that there is no exposure and therefore no risk to any member of the public because of this activity. No other leachate or effluent is permitted to be discharged at this location.

The arrangement in question has been put in place with the consent of Dublin City Council which is the local authority with responsibility for the sewer involved. Section 40 of the Waste Management Act 1996 provides for the granting by the EPA of a waste licence for a landfill or other waste facility. The conditions applying to a waste licence and the enforcement of such conditions are matters for the EPA. However, I understand that the discharge of the leachate from Balleally landfill into the public sewer in question by Fingal County Council has been agreed with the EPA.