THE ENVIRONMENTAL Protection Agency (EPA) is exercising its powers to secure the problematic Kerdiffstown landfill site in Co Kildare, where an underground fire that raged for four weeks has now been brought under control.
The EPA has begun preliminary works to remove stockpiles of fire-risk waste and landfill leachate as well as providing 24-hour security, setting up an on-site office, increasing monitoring and inspection and dealing with “immediate health and safety issues”.
Funding for the short-term emergency works had been provided by the Department of the Environment and further funding for remediation works would be “released on a phased basis”, the agency said. Altogether, it will involve dealing with two million tonnes of waste.
“The EPA has taken enforcement action against those involved in the operation of the Kerdiffstown site, including three High Court cases”, it said, adding the agency would use its powers under the Waste Management Acts to seek recovery of all remediation costs.
It is seeking orders against directors of the companies that formerly operated the site, Neiphin Trading and Dean Waste, to recover these costs. A criminal investigation file relating to the previous operations is with the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Last week, senior EPA officials met the Clean Air Naas lobby group, which had been critical of the agency’s handling of the case, but it has agreed to co-operate on the basis that “all matters will be fully disclosed” and no information would be “suppressed”.
