EPA CRIES FOUL OVER ODOURS AT NEW DAIRYGOLD PLANT
COMPANY SAYS IT IS ADDRESSING THE ISSUES RAISED BY THE AGENCY
THE Dairygold site in Mallow and Nutricia Plant in Macroom are among four locations in Cork included on the Environmental Protections Agency’s (EPA) latest National Priority Sites for Enforcement list.
The site is among seven included on the list issued at the end of September, with the other Cork sites being the Carbery Plant near Bandon and the Ashgrove Recycling waster transfer station on the outskirts of Cork City.
The National Priority Sites for Enforcement system was launched by the EPA in July of this year in a bid to drive further compliance at industrial and waste facilities.
The seven sites have been included on the list for what the body said was for “failing to meet the necessary environmental standards” as laid down on their EPA issued licences.
Facilities with what the EPA said were “the poorest compliance status” are identified as National Priority Sites under a points allocation system based on data such as complaints, incidents and non-compliance over the previous six months.
Those that exceed a certain threshold are deemed a National Priority Site and are targeted by the EPA for further enforcement action.
Issues arose regarding the Dairygold site in June of this year after Cork County Council raised the issue of ‘foul odours’ emanating from the plant with the EPA following several complaints from the public and local representatives.
The EPA subsequently confirmed to The Corkman that it had received four complaints “in relation to odours from the facility” between May 9 and 28 and during a site visit inspectors found that Dairygold was “in non-compliance” with licence conditions relating to odour.
“The EPA has opened two compliance investigations in relation to the matter. Dairygold is required to undertake a series of corrective actions to ensure that odours from the activity do not cause a nuisance,” said an agency spokesperson.
This week the EPA confirmed that a total of eight complaints were received in relation to the Daiygold site between the start of May and the end of August. It is understood these related to odours emanating from the West End site.
The agency further said that 13 non-compliances had been registered in relation to its licence since April. Four of these related to bunding & material handling, one to documentation and procedures, one for non-notification of incidents, three for emission limit values (ELV) exceedences and three for what were described as ‘nuisances’. It is understood the ‘ nuisances’ related to odours and noise.
An EPA spokesperson said investigations at the site are ongoing and the agency has advised Dairygold on the action needed to address specific issues and get them off the priority list.
“We are working closely with Dairygold and will consider taking enforcement proceedings if necessary,” said the spokesperson.
Dairygold confirmed that following a plant malfunction in May it was found to be in breach of EPA licensing regulations relating to intermittent odours from its wastewater treatment plant in Mallow.
In a statement the company said that prior to any EPA visit they undertook a review of the plant and “implemented a programme of works to alleviate the odour issue”.
“On a subsequent EPA visit to our Mallow plant they acknowledged that there was considerable work completed and acknowledged our commitment to pro-actively pursuing further works in order to improve the situation further,” read the statement.
“We continue to work positively to address issues relating to our wastewater treatment plant in Mallow,” it concluded.
In relation to the Nutricia plant in Macroom, which manufactures milk powder for formulation into infant milk products, the EPA said that odours arising from the activity were “impacting on residents and resulting in complaints”.
While The Corkman contacted the company in relation to the issue a spokesperson declined to comment.