The Environmental Protection Agency has issued Clare County Council with its ninth notice of non-compliance in relation to the management of a landfill site near Inagh.
This latest notice arises from an EPA audit team detecting "a significant distinct odour of landfill gas to the west and north of the facility".
The audit report states: "The key issue that needs to be resolved is the management of odour emissions from the facility. Odour being emitted was detected off-site and this is of concern to the agency."
It acknowledged that the licensee had taken a number of positive steps to minimise the generation of odours at the facility. However, the audit team considers that additional measures need to be taken to ensure compliance with the conditions of the waste licence.
The EPA warned the council that unless it addressed the situation, further enforcement action would be taken by the agency. The council has until December 7th to lodge proposals with the EPA to address the situation.
The notice of non-compliance follows numerous complaints from residents over the bad smells in the area.
The council's senior executive engineer, Conor Culloo, said yesterday the council was already addressing the issue of the odour, including capping the current area being landfilled with an intermediate cover within the next three weeks. Active gas extraction wells would then be drilled into the waste body and the gas collected.
Meanwhile, groups in the Inagh-Kilnamona area are benefiting from a €1 million fund from the council because of the landfill. During the lifetime of the landfill, the community will receive €1.143 million for various activities in the area arising from the 900,000 tonnes of waste that will be deposited at the site.
