Latest news with #PeatlandsClimateActionScheme
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Examiner
Illegal peat harvesting uncovered on 38 sites across seven counties
Large-scale commercial peat extraction is being carried out illegally across seven counties in Ireland. That's according to a report published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which revealed that large-scale commercial peat extraction is being carried out without any of the necessary authorisations from local authorities on 38 sites. The sites are located in Offaly, Kildare, Tipperary, Westmeath, Roscommon, Longford, and Sligo. According to the EPA, these illegal operations are contributing to an export trade of 300,000 tonnes of peat annually, valued at almost €40m. Between 2021 and 2024, the EPA allocated significant resources to carry out 170 enforcement inspections. It has also taken legal action in the District Court and High Court against operations exceeding 50 hectares. These legal actions have resulted in the halt of illegal peat extraction on several peatlands in recent years. A number of cases remain ongoing before the courts. Local authorities have the primary responsibility for regulating all commercial peat extraction, specifically ensuring compliance with environmental legislation, including the performance of Environmental Impact Assessments, Appropriate Assessments related to protected habitats, and the granting — or refusal — of necessary planning permissions for these activities. The EPA is directing local authorities to take appropriate enforcement actions against such operations within their jurisdictions. The report notes that proper regulation of peat harvesting can provide important environmental protections. Bord na Móna lawfully operated nine peatland complexes across 11 counties under EPA licence until operations ceased in 2020. Now, following licence conditions and with support from the Peatlands Climate Action Scheme, Bord na Móna is rehabilitating those peatlands. By the end of 2024, nearly 19,000 hectares will have been restored — bringing the land back to life and allowing nature to thrive again. Dr Tom Ryan, Director of the EPA Office of Environmental Enforcement, said: 'Operators engaged in unauthorised peat harvesting activities are in flagrant violation of environmental law. They are destroying our precious natural environments and this needs to stop. "The environmental damage caused by large-scale peat extraction operating outside regulatory control is catastrophic for the environment. It results in the destruction of vital ecosystems for biodiversity, the loss of important carbon sinks for our efforts on climate change and the decimation of an irreplaceable cultural and scientific amenity and resource." Read More Gardaí used decommissioned firearms in sting operations to trap illegal gun buyers
Agriland
25-04-2025
- Business
- Agriland
EPA: Three co-ops and pig farmer on 2024 priority ‘enforcement' list
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified 10 specific sites last year for 'enforcement' action including three co-ops, a pig farmer, two Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants and a Co. Cavan based agri-business. The EPA today (Friday , April 25) published its Industrial and Waste Licence Enforcement Summary 2024 and highlighted a number of 'compliance failures' at these 10 sites. 'Poor operational management and a lack of investment in infrastructure underpinned the main compliance failures at these priority sites. 'The 2024 National Priority list was dominated by waste and food and drink facilities, with odour emissions and increased risks to rivers and groundwater being common compliance themes,' the EPA outlined. The agency said that nine of the ten sites on the 2024 list 'have been prosecuted or have legal action pending'. Source: EPA Industrial and Waste Licence Enforcement Summary 2024 The latest report shows that the EPA carried out over 1,300 inspections at 634 licensed industrial and waste facilities last year and that legal action taken in 2024 resulted in fines as high as €500,000. Dr. Tom Ryan, director of the EPA Office of Environmental Enforcement said today: 'Recent convictions in the courts of two sites on the EPA's priority list, Killarney Waste Disposal Unlimited Company in 2024 and Aurivo Dairy Ingredients Ltd in 2025, attracted fines and penalties of €500,000 and €350,000 respectively. 'These convictions and the substantial fines imposed are an important endorsement of the 'polluter pays' principle in this jurisdiction. 'However, with the appropriate management commitment to environmental protection and to sufficient investment in infrastructure, particularly in the treatment of wastewater, all of these sites can comply with statutory requirements and be good neighbours to local communities'. The EPA's National Priority Sites list for quarter 2025 has also been released and currently includes three sites from the chemical, food and drink and AD sectors. Source: EPA's National Priority Sites list for quarter 2025 EPA According to the EPA it continued 'to dedicate a significant amount of resources' in 2024 to tackle the illegal large scale extraction of peat. It completed 42 site visits, targeting 38 peatlands across 7 different counties in 2024. 'Legal actions in the District and High Courts have successfully halted illegal peat extraction on several sites,' it stated. The agency also highlighted that it has 'increased its enforcement effort' under Section 63 of the EPA Act to promote enforcement action by local authorities. It detailed that '38 Section Notices and 7 Proposed Directions' have been issued to Local Authorities under the EPA Act (Longford, Westmeath, Offaly, Kildare, Roscommon, Tipperary, Sligo). The EPA also approved a further 10 Bord na Mona rehabilitation plans last year (covering 4,021 hectares) bringing the number of plans approved under the Peatlands Climate Action Scheme to 60, covering an area of 24,202 hectares. Water quality According to the EPA site-specific enforcement plans have been developed for industrial and waste licensed sites that were identified 'as placing significant pressures on water quality'. The agency highlighted in the report that '41 licensed sites remain on the Significant Pressures List with 14 placing significant pressure on surface water quality, 24 on groundwater quality and 3 on both surface water and groundwater quality'. 'This represents less than 5% of industrial and waste licensed sites,' the EPA stated. Source: EPA Meanwhile the agency said that 809 complaints were received by the EPA during 2024 which is a 16% decrease on 2023 numbers. The majority of complaints related to odour and noise complaints and accounted for 90% of all complaints received in 2024.
