Coal burning fears raised

CONCERNS were raised about the impact of illegal ‘smoky’ coal on the air quality in Dundalk, at the January monthly meeting of Louth County Council.

Councillors heard that two cases under the Air Pollution Act 1987 (Marketing, Sale, Distribution and Burning of Specified Fuels) Regulations 2012 have been referred for legal action.

Cllr. Mark Dearey said he was aware that Dundalk’s location so close to the border has led to these regulations being undermined.

He added that the information he had received from distributors locally was that people were buying solid coal and burning it in Dundalk.

The practice was not only threatening to their livelihoods, but was also a breach of regulations.

He added that in some cases people are aware of smoke billowing from their neighbours chimney, but they feel they cannot do anything, or report the fuel being used because they are neighbours.

Cllr. Dearey said this was of particular concern for people and children with respiratory conditions.

He welcomed notice from the council that the EPA are set to begin monitoring air quality in Dundalk, but criticised the long delay in air quality monitoring being carried out in the Dundalk area.

‘It is fifteen years since air quality monitoring was available in 2002. In my view that is a failure on he part of the EPA.’

He queried the coal bags that are being found, asking whether they feature the name of the supplier, as they are legally supposed to feature.

Dundalk has been designated as smokeless zone since 1998, with additional regulations coming into force in 2012.

This means that no bituminous, or smoky coal, can be sold within the specified zone. It also prohibits anyone from burning this type of coal in the designated area.

It also compels distributors to clearly label bags of coal with the name and address of the person who packed the bag.

Members were told that the environmental compliance section of Louth County Council is responsible for enforcing the regulations, and that it carries out spot checks on suppliers and distributors.