Aer Rianta on Shannon pollution charges

Aer Rianta is being taken to court by another semi-state body over its continuing pollution of the Shannon estuary, it emerged yesterday.

This follows the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board serving a summons under the Local Government Water Pollution and Fisheries Acts on the airport operator in relation to the discharge of untreated sewage into the estuary from the new €35 million terminal at Shannon airport.

Last January, a report by the Environmental Protection Agency found that Aer Rianta was pumping more than 100,000 cubic metres of raw sewage into the estuary per annum from two discharge pipes a short distance from the terminal.

Aer Rianta secured planning permission for the new terminal in 1998 on condition that it put in place sewage treatment works.

However to date, no treatment facilities have been put in place and since the terminal opened in March 2000, it is estimated that 300,000 cubic metres of untreated sewage have been discharged without a licence into the Shannon estuary.

The estuary is a proposed Special Area of Conservation .

Last month, Clare County Council served a warning letter on Aer Rianta under the Planning Acts ordering "Aer Rianta that the conditions of the planning permission be complied with without delay".

Now, following two visits to the airport last August by Mr Michael Fitzsimmons, a senior Regional Fisheries Board official, when water samples were taken, Aer Rianta is facing summons relating to 20 alleged offences under the Water Pollution and Fisheries Acts.

It is accused by the Fisheries Board of permitting and causing polluting matter to enter waters contrary to section 3(1) of the Local Government Water Pollution Act. It is also accused of emptying into the waters deleterious matter and faces summons relating to the discharge of trade effluent.

A spokesman for the Friends of the Irish Environment said yesterday: "It is difficult to understand how a semi-state body like Aer Rianta would have allowed itself to get into this position."

The summons are seeking a court order requiring Aer Rianta to cease forthwith the discharge of untreated sewage to waters near the airport.

A spokesman for Aer Rianta confirmed yesterday that the summons had been received. He said the company would shortly lodge a planning application for a €2.25 million sewage treatment works for the airport which would address the issue. "Aer Rianta is fully aware of the its obligations to the environment."

The company expects the works to be in place by the end of 2004 .

The case being taken by the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board is due to be heard at Shannon District Court on the March 20th. A spokesman for the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board declined to comment.