Written answers
Thursday, 19 April 2018
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Environmental Protection Agency
Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
299. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which the Environemental Protection Agency, EPA, plans to assess and monitor the risks to human health from carcinogenic dioxins in view of the fact that An Bord Pleanála has approved a company's (details supplied) application for an incinerator at a location; the way in which it will enforce the terms of a future toxic incineration licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17209/18]
Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The EPA is responsible for the licence and enforcement of large industrial plants listed in the First Schedule of the EPA Act 1992 (as amended). This includes incineration and co-incineration plants. The Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU) specifies the emission limit values for dioxins that apply to incineration and co-incineration facilities. This Directive also stipulates the frequency at which licensees must monitor dioxins. Conditions implementing the Directive’s requirements are written into Industrial Emissions Licences granted by the EPA. The reports of all monitoring conducted by licensed facilities are submitted to the EPA for assessment, and are available on the EPA’s website.
In addition, the EPA carries out a programme of independent air emissions monitoring at industrial licensed sites to check compliance with the emission limit values specified in the licence. If dioxin monitoring is specified in an Industrial Emissions Licence, then the facility is monitored by the EPA on at least an annual basis. Monitoring visits are typically unannounced, and the reports of the monitoring are available on the EPA’s website.
No comments