Documentation submitted by both Enterprise Energy Ireland (EEI) and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) to An Bord Pleanála in relation to the proposed gas terminal at Bellanaboy Bridge in north Mayo was called into question at the oral hearing into the project in Ballina yesterday.
Mr Peter Sweetman, for Friends of the Environment, contended that all of the EEI map drawings, which had been digitally produced by architect John Kelly for EEI, were drawn from an incorrect terminal base level of 32 metres, as supplied by EEI, when the level should have been 34 metres.
Mr John Connolly, a former chief fire officer in Co Meath, also representing Friends of the Environment, contended that the HSA was in breach of regulations, since measurements recorded in its map reports were not taken from the edge of the terminal, when they should have been, and thus requisite separation distances from local housing were not complied with. He also raised concerns about the management of possible fires at the plant.
Mr Greg Casey, for An Taisce, argued that EEI had supplied contradictory reports as to the nature of the gas from the Corrib field.
One report, submitted to the Department of the Marine, which subsequently granted a licence for the pipeline, stated that the gas was wet; but a report before the hearing described the gas as dry. Expert research showed that wet gas could be corrosive, he said.
Objectors also queried figures supplied by EEI on maximum pressure levels which could occur in the gas pipeline and noted that possible failures in the piping system had been acknowledged.
Mr Roderick O'Connor, for local residents, stated that a complete list had not been given under the Major Hazard Register. The HSA was only as good as the information put in front of it by EEI, he said. However, there should also be a duty of care on the HSA to have the developer's submissions scrutinised independently and thoroughly. On Monday, the hearing was recessed after objectors claimed that two different sets of contours were used in maps which had been provided.
EEI confirmed yesterday that a standard site datum against which all measurements could be converted had been used for all works - namely, the Ordnance Bench Mark at Bellanaboy Bridge.
Responding to concerns which had been raised, Mr John Colreavy, of the HSA, said that the issue of whether the gas was wet or dry was not their concern. The HSA was satisfied that the design of the plant took corrosion into account, and measures were in place for monitoring it.
Regarding a Major Hazard Register, that would only need to be provided by the developer should the development go ahead. He was satisfied that Shell, the parent company of EEI, had established a very good module on safety reporting.
He accepted that the HSA did not look at the risk of fire in relation to surrounding vegetation or geology, but only in relation to people's homes.
"Our analysis shows the risk to houses near the site is low. I could not say there is no risk," he said.
Mr John Easey, terminal project manager, said that hydrogen sulphide was not found in five of the eight wells drilled. If hydrogen sulphide was detected, it would pose a risk of corrosion, and the planning application would have to be modified to reflect this. In relation to fire management, if a fire did occur, there would be no attempt to quench it with water, as the aim would be to reduce the inventory fuelling it, he said.
Responding to Mr Tom Phillips, planning consultant for EEI, who raised a point on the length of time the hearing was taking, the inspector, Mr Kevin Moore, who is presiding over the hearing, declared: "The purpose of this hearing is not to gallop to a conclusion as quickly as I can, but to gain as much information as possible to aid the board to properly assess the application."
The hearing continues today.