Corrib Gas Partners welcome participation of Shell to Sea in EPA Oral Hearing Process

During the first five days of the hearing Shell’s expert witnesses in the areas of air, drainage and noise gave their evidence. Objections from a number of local groups as well as An Taisce were also submitted in the opening days. The Corrib Gas partners welcome the submissions that a number of local objectors made to the oral hearing this week.

The Corrib gas partners also welcomed the submission from Professor Matthiessen, an independent consultant ecotoxicologist with experience in the impacts of oil and gas discharges, in regard to the marine monitoring regime. Professor Matthiessen, who was called on behalf of the Mayo Lobster V Notching Group stated that "the likely environmental risks of the proposed discharge of treated water outside Broadhaven Bay are, on the basis on existing documentation, considered by him to be acceptably small". He went on to say that as science is not perfect he would recommend the implementation of a stronger independent monitoring regime for these discharges. The Corrib Gas partners also welcomed the submission from Mr Leo Corcoran of An Taisce but re-iterated that the Terminal at Bellanaboy is not in breach of any applicable codes of practise.

Shell’s expert witnesses Robert Burns and James Garvie stated that, from the perspective of air emissions, the Corrib terminal at Bellanaboy is similar to many other gas terminals and as such presents no unusual technical issues. They detailed the air dispersion modelling that has been carried out to analyse the impact on air quality of emissions from the terminal. Mr Garvie concluded that, based on the impact assessment studies carried out for the Bellanaboy Bridge Gas Terminal and his own experience of other sites in the UK, where not one but three terminals operate side by side, he is confident that the Bellanaboy Bridge Gas Terminal can operate without significant impact on air quality.

Dr Nigel Peters, a water drainage specialist gave a detailed description of the drainage system that will be used on the site to ensure that all of the water leaving the site meets the required standards. Dr Peters outlined the three levels of protection that form part of the terminal design that ensure only water meeting the relevant standards are discharged from the site. Dr Peters said that the particular water supply, ecological and conservation status of Carrowmore Lake were fully taken account of in the environmental protection measures incorporated within the terminal drainage system. He concluded that the design measures he described, together with the proposed monitoring and control measures and the application of relevant operational procedures, will provide robust effluent and drainage management at the Terminal. “Consequently the potential for contaminated water from the Terminal to reach Carrowmore Lake and to cause measurable negative impact is minimal” stated Dr Peters.

Today Ms Agnes McLaverty, senior environmental advisor to the Corrib project, gave details of the process followed by SEPIL in selecting cold venting as a means of dispersing of small volumes of natural gas. This was in response to questions raised earlier in the week. She outlined the consultation process in the Mayo area in the early years of the project - 2000/2001 and stated that in her opinion there had been considerable concern about the visual and noise impact of the terminal operation and that SEPIL had made a commitment to limit the use of the flare to emergency situations only.

She stated it was on the basis on this consultation that Shell decided to cold vent the natural gas when it became clear that, for operational reasons, small volumes would need to be released during the change over of compressors. The Corrib gas partners have stated previously that methane, or natural gas, is lighter than air and will therefore disperse immediately into the atmosphere and is not predicted to have any impact on the air quality.

The maximum amount to be released per annum is equivalent to the volume released naturally by about 700 cows (per annum) and is far less than the volumes released at other industrial installations in Ireland eg the landfill at Rathroeen in Co. Mayo.

The Oral hearing will resume on Tuesday April 24th.

• In January 2007 the EPA made a proposed determination to grant an IPPC Licence to SEPIL. They subsequently announced an oral hearing to allow members of the public to raise issues relating to the application. When making their proposed decision in January the EPA, who are the competent statutory body stated that the terminal “will not adversely affect human health or the environment and will meet all relevant national and EU standards, when operated in accordance with the conditions of the proposed licence”.
• 
  The Bellanaboy Bridge gas terminal received full planning permission in October 2004 and peat removal re-commenced in April 2007. Full construction will get under way by the end of 2007 by which time up to 700 people will be employed on the site.