Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 3: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to deal with hazardous waste sites that need remediation, particularly Haulbowline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36815/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The recently published fourth state of the environment report states there are between 1,980 and 2,300 commercial sites where there is the potential for soil or underground contamination, the exact number being unknown as there is currently no national inventory. Two national initiatives are under way to establish such inventories of historic mines and unregulated waste disposal sites. Regulations in the latter category are at an advanced stage of preparation and will provide a legal framework for remediation of high risk waste disposal sites where municipal waste was disposed of in the period 1977-96. Ireland is also supportive of the proposed EU soils directive, which intends to put in place particular requirements for member states regarding historic contaminated land.

The position in respect of Haulbowline is exceptional in that my Department is addressing a specific Government decision in taking responsibility for the care and maintenance of that unique site, pending a decision on its future use. This is the only such site currently subject to any investigations or reports by my Department. In addition, the Department re-engaged consultants White Young Green to carry out an independent and rigorous assessment of site conditions following extensive unauthorised works earlier this year. In 2005, White Young Green carried out an extensive intrusive site investigation that indicated no evidence of any immediate threat to human health or the environment. Test results will be assessed against baseline data from the previous survey.

At the request of local residents and public representatives, I have arranged for the current ongoing site assessment works and the 2005 report to be peer reviewed by independent experts to offer reassurance to local communities that the scope of works, tests and analyses employed conform to best international practice in determining whether the site poses any immediate health or environmental threat. Both the White Young Green and peer review reports will be published once my Department has received and considered them. I anticipate the reports will be publicly available within a matter of weeks.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Minister has confirmed that the Haulbowline report will be published in a few weeks and that its peer review, which is presumably still in draft form, is ongoing.

The Minister alluded to a serious matter raised in the Environmental Protection Agency's state of the environment report, namely, that between 1,980 and 2,300 sites could pose risks to ground water. What will be the cost of the sites' remediation, what action does the Minister intend to take to deal with the risk to ground water and public health and has the Department conducted a cost evaluation?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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A risk assessment has been carried out and a code of practice produced. In 2007, the Office of Environmental Enforcement published a code of practice for environmental risk assessments of unregulated waste disposal sites. The code sets out a risk-based procedure that should be applied to sites identified in accordance with sections 22(7)(h) and 26(2)(c) of the Waste Management Act 1996. The code provides the framework to establish the intrinsic risk posed by old and previously unregulated sites.

The intention is to make regulations that would provide a mechanism for the remediation of old municipal waste disposal sites that operated between 1977 and 1996. These regulations will be completed shortly and will apply to an estimated 300 sites, which take priority over the other estimated 2,300 commercial sites where the holder of the waste, defined in legislation as the waste's producer or the natural or legal person in possession of it, has the responsibility not to "hold, transport, recover or dispose of waste in a manner that causes or is likely to cause environmental pollution". This duty is set out in section 32 of the Act.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I would have expected the Department, through the EPA, to have identified the sites in question, numbering between 1,980 and 2,300, and the costs arising for the Department in terms of an action plan in each case. Otherwise, we are saying to the public that we are satisfied to allow a situation to continue where ground water is contaminated. We will have more problems with the water supply in the future if we do not deal with these issues now. Has the Minister plans to deal as soon as possible with the sites that have been identified? Will he set up a national inventory of all sites which have not yet been identified? I understand it is difficult to get a handle on all the sites.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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There is an acceptance that a proper inventory of contaminated sites is the least that is required. Two inventories are currently being completed. The first relates to old mines and is being prepared by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the EPA. It is expected to be published before the end of the year. The second relates to old municipal waste disposal sites which will be required to be identified by 30 June 2009. While the Department does not hold a list of sites that may require remediation, the sites at which the types of activities which potentially give rise to environmental legacy issues occurred include mines, railway yards, petrol stations, oil depots, gas works and chemical and other industrial installations.

Activity in this area is also under way at EU level. Under a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and the European Council establishing a framework for the protection of soil, various initiatives are proposed which may require, inter alia, the identification and remediation of old contaminated sites. Ireland is supportive of this proposal, but our support is measured in that we are anxious to have a long lead-in time for the transposition and implementation given current financial and budgetary constraints.