Cork environmentalists have expressed anger over the delay in releasing information about a leak of caustic soda into Cork harbour nearly three weeks ago.
However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it felt the environmental risk was "minimum" and delayed making the information public.
According to the EPA the leak happened on the night of Saturday, July 2nd, when a ship was uploading caustic soda into storage tanks at the ADM plant at Ringaskiddy in the harbour.
Some 252 tonnes of caustic soda, containing a 50 per cent Sodium Hydroxide solution, leaked into the harbour. ADM informed the EPA, which carried out an inspection on the following Monday morning, July 4th.
A spokeswoman for the EPA said the inspection found "a few dead crabs and one dead mullet" and concluded that the leak contained "no risk to human life and only a minimum environmental impact".
However, the Green Party has expressed concern that the information has only come to light in the last few days.
Local Green Party Councillor, Dominick Donnelly, asked: "Why has it taken so long for the news of this accident to come out into the public domain? How many people have been using Cork Harbour since this accident, whether swimming, fishing or boating?
"The public also need to know the environmental and health effects, both long term and short term, of this pollution into Cork Harbour and the effects on those living in the vicinity of the harbour."
The EPA and ADM will have a follow-up meeting next week on Tuesday, July 26th.
