Farmers say EPA report on Limerick plant was 'flawed'

A farmers' group has written to the Minister for the Environment, Mr Roche, calling for an inquiry into the Environmental Protection Agency's handling of the licensing of Aughinish Alumina in Limerick.

The EPA has said it would welcome any queries on its work, as all matters concerning licensing were conducted in an open and transparent manner.

The Cappagh Farmers' Support Group said several issues had come to light in recent months which undermined the EPA-led report into the animal deaths and human health problems in the Askeaton/Cappagh area.

The group estimates that 1,500 animals have died mysteriously in the past 10 years. However, the EPA report found no link between local industry and animal ill-health, and said the most likely causes related to infection, nutrition and farm management.

Now the Cappagh Farmers' Support Group is arguing that the report was flawed because it ignored key facts. The EPA has rejected this claim, describing the allegations in the letter as "inaccurate and outdated".

In the letter, Mr Patrick Sheehy, chairman of the farmers' group, pointed out that EPA inspectors were classifying red mud in a tailings pond on the Aughinish Alumina site as "hazardous material" in 1997, yet by 2004 the EPA was describing such material as "non-hazardous".

An EPA spokeswoman said while there were hazardous properties in red mud, it wasn't hazardous in the technical sense under the Hazardous Waste Directive.

Aughinish Alumina was not available for comment yesterday. The group has always defended its environmental record.