Megalandfill at Silvermines draws one step nearer

Waste Management Ireland (WMI), a subsidiary of the largest waste management company in the world, Waste Management, Inc., got a licence last week from the North Tipperary County Council to drain the huge pond at Silvermines. It is the first step in what undoubtedly will be a long battle by the giant company to turn the disused mine and its underground shafts into a mega landfill and tip-head for the Southern counties.

There is an estimated 1.6 million cubic metres of water in the 30-acre hole which was left after the Magobar open-cast mining operation closed. The hole is estimated to be 250 feet deep. According to Tim Young, local farmer, the pond is contaminated with 17 different toxic chemicals, including lead and zinc pyrites, arsenic and cyanide.

Waste Management proposes to treat the water through a floating pump station and drain if off through a 12-inch pipe at the rate of 30,000 cubic metres a day into a tiny stream, the Foilborig, which runs down through some of the best farming land in the country, into the Kilmastulla River, and on into the Shannon.

As it is, the valley is already severely polluted by lead. Four cattle have already died. They died from lead poisoning when the bed of the river was disturbed by cattle crossing or by storms. Local people ask what will be the effect of pumping this amount of water into the river.

Acting County Manager, Risteard O Domhnaill, gave the licence to WMI without any vote by the councillors. He claims it as a reserved function of the council executive. He imposed some 41 conditions, not yet divulged at time of print, but which are said to be strict.

Local Nenagh republican Paddy Hackett, asks: ``What use are `strict conditions' when it is Waste Management itself which will monitor their observance? The council neither has the equipment nor the personnel required. Waste Management's record is well known, and far from spotless.'' (See An Phoblacht, 3 December 1998)

``How come the Manager agreed to the licence when the whole community is up in arms about the proposal, and not one councillor has supported a landfill site here?'' asks Patrick.

``It is a serious setback for the campaign. It means now that the costs of contesting WMI's plans will fall on the council. If the licence had been turned down, then the boot would be on the other foot: it would be down to WMI to contest the council decision.''

WMI can well afford it. The assets of the Texas-based company amount to $22 billion.