Precautionary measures should be taken to protect the public and livestock from contamination by toxic metals, such as lead, on the Tynagh mines site in Co Galway, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
However, in a report published yesterday, the EPA's office of environmental enforcement, said these "elevated metal concentrations" were confined to the 276-acre site, immediately adjoining areas and streams flowing through it.
The report follows an investigation into the presence of lead and other heavy metals on the site of the lead and zinc mine, which ceased production in 1982. It was carried out with the assistance of Galway County Council and the Tynagh Mines Liaison Group.
The remit of the investigation was to define the extent of the area where elevated heavy metal concentrations exist and to make recommendations. It did not deal with the long-term issue of remediating and rehabilitating the overall site.
In general, it found that surface water quality in the area is satisfactory apart from particular locations within and adjacent to the site. Providing livestock were excluded from the area, it was unlikely that the levels detected would give rise to "toxicity problems".
Unauthorised access to the site by the public, and in particular children, should also be prevented, the EPA said. The full report is available on the EPA website: www.epa.ie