This article is from page 18 of the 2008-04-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
THIS Wednesday, Clare County Council will face its first ever pros- ecution by the Environment Protec- tion Agency (EPA) for alleged non- compliance with the terms of its waste licence at the Central Waste Management Facility in Ballyduff Beg in Inagh.
While the Kilrush court appear- ance 1s the first ever attempted prose- cution, the issue of Ballyduff Beg has proved one of the most controversial in Clare over the last decade.
The facility was first mooted in
February of 1998 when potential sites Kilmaley, Lissycasey and In- agh were identified by Clare County Council. In the summer of 1999, tests were carried out, with Ballyduff Beg being determined as the most suit- able location.
In January of 2000, Clare County Council began to compile an Envi- ronmental Impact Statement at the Inagh site and in August of the same year applied to the EPA for a waste management licence.
By the closing date of October 2000, locals lodged a total of 247 submissions with the EPA. Despite
this local opposition, the EPA issued a formal proposal to grant the licence in December of 2000 and, despite further local opposition, granted a licence on June 13, 2001.
In April of 2002, the Community Liaison Committee was established as one of the conditions of the EPA licence. Locals and members of the committee meet each month to dis- cuss issues arising from the opera- tion of the facility.
The Central Waste Management facility officially opened for business in September of 2002. There was no official ribbon-cutting ceremony.
In December of 2005, a feature un- (su k-l cone) y