This article is from page 28 of the 2008-07-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 28 JPG
A SHANNON based company, Chemifloc Ltd is facing prosecution in the Circuit Court over an incident at its plant in May of last year.
At Ennis District Court last Friday, Judge Joseph Mangan gave the Envi- ronmental Protection Agency (EPA) additional time to serve the book of AAG lo Nee
The firm, based in Smithstown In- dustrial Estate, is charged under Sec- tion 8 of the EPA Act with failing to comply with the conditions of the intergrated pollution control licence
granted to it in Octorber 1996 by causing or permitting emissions to the atmosphere contrary to the provisions of the licence.
The summons states that Section 8 of the EPA Act provides that emis- sions shall not exceed the emission limit value and that there shall not be any other emission to the atmosphere of environmental significance.
Already, jurisdiction has been de- clined in the case in the District Court exposing the company to the risk of much high higher penalties in the Cir- cuit Court if convicted.
The transfer of the case to the Cir-
cuit Court also necessitates the pros- ecution putting in place a book of evidence, which will contain all the statements and exhibits taken by the Keeble (OOF
An Official with the EPA told the court on Friday that in order to put to- gether the book of evidence, it will be necessary to take statements from in- dividuals and gardai who were present at Chemifloc on the date in question.
It is understood that on the date in question a plume of yellow/orange coloured smoke discharged from the licensed air emission point.
The coloured smoke mainly com-
prised nitrous oxides. The incident occurred between 5.30pm and 6.10pm on May 24.
A number of complaints relating to the coloured air emission were re- ceived by the licensee and by the EPA on Thursday, May 24.
Arising from the incident, an EPA inspector visited the site and the sur- rounding area on May 25 to assess the situation.
The case was adjourned to Killaloe District Court to allow time be ex- tended for the serving of the book of evidence to October 20.