Marine Minister Welcomes EPA Licence For Haulbowline Clean-Up

26th July 2014

#CorkHarbour - Following Marine Minister Simon Coveney's promise in May that the clean-up of the toxic waste site on Haulbowline Island 'will happen', the minister yesterday (25 July) welcomed confirmation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of their decision to grant a waste licence for the remediation of the site.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the Government originally signed off on a €40 million package to begin clean-up of the East Tip site on the island in Cork Harbour, the location of the former Irish Steel/Ispat plant, as far back as October 2011.

The Government was since criticised for its slow movement on the project, after the contract for the latest in a series of risk assessments was signed in April this year, despite what the Green Party's Dan Boyle said was "years of data" already collected on a site where "nothing has physically changed ... since 2011."

However, planning approval was granted in May, paving the way for the EPA's licence "in accordance with section 42(2) of the Waste Management Act 1996, (as amended) and subject to the detailed conditions attached," according to a Marine statement.

Commenting on the EPA’s confirmation, Minister Coveney said: “This decision will now enable Cork County Council – my department’s agents in this project – to commence the complex and detailed design phase of the core remediation project.

"Getting this aspect right will be crucial to the overall success of the project and ensure that the entire Haulbowline Island site can thrive and prosper into the future."

The minister said he is "determined that this project will proceed with minimal delays".

The remediation plan intends to transform Haulbowline Island into "a major civic amenity in the Cork Harbour region within a relatively short time span," Minister Coveney added.

"In the past few months alone, we have seen An Bord Pleanála grant its overall approval for the remediation project, commencement of work to repair the Haulbowline Island access bridges and now, the granting of a waste management licence by the EPA.

"The significant economic activity on the island is already bringing benefits to the local economy, gradually transforming the Island into a genuine national infrastructural asset and an integral part of the Government’s plans for Cork Harbour.”

Published in Cork Harbour

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MacDara Conroy

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MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business

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