This article is from page 2 of the 2013-11-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
CLARE County Council said it is working to remove asbestos piping dumped at an unauthorised landfill site by its own contractor.
The dumping at the former reservoi r at Lislanaghan Kilkee has been an ongoing source of concern for local resident and former member of Kil kee Town Council PJ Linnane, who maintains the pipes were broken and fragmented, making them a public health hazard.
A repor t following the inspection of the site by Michael Flynn Planning, Building and Civil Consultations, working for Mr Linnane, said that on inspection of some of the pipes the asbestos appears to be Chysotile, however this is subject to analysis.
“Chysotile is a white fibrous mineral, a variety of serpentine was an important source of commercial asbestos. Some pipes are in poor condition that have broken and flaked. Chysotile asbestos has also been a significant contributor to asbestosrelated illness,” the report said.
Clare County Council said it does not believe the pipes were broken and cr ushed but are taking the issue very seriously.
Senior engineer Sean Ward said an environmental consultant is being employed by the council to over see the removal and proper disposal of any of the remains of the waste asbestos-cement (AC) water mains, tipped there in June.
Soil samples will also be taken at the site and in neighbouring fields and tested for asbestos. Should there be any traces of asbestos fibres in the soil, Clare County Council will then take the appropriate action, the engineer said.
He added that the AC piping had been stockpiled at the nearby disused water treatment plant and was brought along with soil and stones to the lakeside site.
“This was brought to the attention of this office by Mr Linnane,” he said.
“Many of these pipes were removed from the lakeside site shor tly after being brought there and transferred to the council’s depot in Kilrush, but some AC pipes and debris were left buried under the surface of the lakeside site.
“It is acknowledged that the pipes should not have been brought from the treatment plant site to the lakeside and all pipes and debris will have to be removed from both sites whether on or under the surface,” he added.
“The council has been, and will continue to be, in contact with Mr Linnane to keep him informed of what is being proposed and done,” he said.