EPA To Hold Hearing On Controversial Mungret Plant Plans

The EPA has confirmed that a four-day oral hearing is to be held to hear objections to a controversial decision to allow alternative fuels to be burned at Irish Cement’s Mungret plant.

A license permitting this was granted last year, which led to protests being held as people expressed concerns over pollutants in the air.

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This decision by the EPA would allow Irish Cement to replace fossil fuels, as part of a ten million euro plan, which it says will result in the creation of 60 new temporary jobs and secure the future of 80 staff working there.

But it proved controversial from the get-go.

Over 4,500 people expressed concern over the plans, while Clare County Council and its counterpart in Limerick lodged a joint submission to the EPA against the proposals.

Nevertheless, the EPA gave the green light to the firm to burn 90,000 tonnes of alternative fuels, including used tyres, plastics and animal waste tissue, subject to a number of conditions.

Now though, a four-day oral hearing is to be held in May, in which members of the public can register their objections and concerns to the plans.

After it has concluded, the chairperson of the hearing will submit a report to the EPA board, containing a recommendation to grant or refuse the licence.