The Health and Safety Authority has found that the risk of harm to anyone in the area surrounding the proposed gas terminal at Bellanaboy Bridge, North Mayo, is less than one in a million.
A forest fire in plantations around the site would not prove a catastrophe to people in the area. "If the worst case scenario did occur, in that the trees went on fire, our reading is it would not be a catastrophe for the people in the area, although it may be for the plant operator", Mr John Colreavy, for the authority, told the continuing hearing in Ballina yesterday.
"In the event of fire, gas supply to the terminal would shut down and we would not expect any explosions from this site", he added.
Mr Colreavy also said that any risk of radiation from the planned transmitter mast on site should pose no public hazard due to the low power levels involved.
"The proposed transmitter at the terminal is well below power levels that would cause a problem. This transmitter is just not strong enough to pose a radiation emission threat on this site", he said.
Any risk of fire or explosion within the plant itself would be subject to the emergency procedures laid down by the developer, Enterprise Energy Ireland, in relation to operations at the plant. Such procedures had not yet been made known to the authority, he said, and still remained to be analysed.
"If there should be a major incident it is prudent to exercise as much control over the area as possible. The proposed development falls within a lower-tier establishment and as such, owes no obligation to local people in the event of an incident.
"Clearly, because there are houses within proximity of the plant, we recommend such an arrangement be made to provide local people with full information alerting them to warnings and what action to take." Escape arrangements on site for workers would also have to satisfy it.
The hearing continues.