#Corrib - Mayo fishermen have criticised the State's response to the damaged Corrib Gas Field pipe, claiming that no Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials had yet been to the site, as The Irish Times reports.
Last Friday news emerged that a section of the outflow pipe from the controversial gas project had been dislodged from the seabed after it was spotted by local fishermen on the surface of Broadhaven Bay.
Recent stormy weather conditions in western coastal areas have been blamed for the damage, with the EPA quickly moving to quell any pollution concerns as the pipe was carrying "mostly rainwater".
However, the Erris Inshore Fishermen's Association – which withdrew co-operation with Shell over the North Mayo gas facility in 2011 – said yesterday (Monday 16 March) that the EPA had not sent its own officials to investigate the incident.
“This is what we fought against, and we are so lucky that there were no pollutants in the pipe,” said fisherman Pat O'Donnell, who was jailed for offences relating to protests against the gas scheme.
In response, the EPA stated that it did not "consider it necessary to send an inspector to view the pipe at this time".
The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.
