EPA Prosecutes Limerick City Council

On the 18th March 2005 at Limerick District Court, Co Limerick, Limerick City Council pleaded guilty to offences under Sections 39(1) and 39(9) of the Waste Management Acts 1996 and 2003 for breaches of its Waste Licence (Reg. No. 76-1).

The Council admitted breaching conditions of its Waste Licence by failing to put in place the infrastructure necessary for the handling and management of landfill gas, leachate and surface water at its landfill facility at Longpavement, within the timeframe specified in the licence.  The absence of this infrastructure increases the potential for pollution to atmosphere, surface and groundwater.
 
On hearing details of the offences, Judge O’Donnell imposed fines totalling €3,000 and the EPA’s costs of €3,152 were also awarded.

Limerick City Council was granted a waste licence for landfill operations at Longpavement, Monabraher, Limerick on 19th February 2003 (Reg. No. 76-1). Two major requirements of the licence included the installation of infrastructure to collect and manage landfill gas from all areas within the facility and the installation of a leachate management system at the facility for the protection of surface and groundwaters by 19th August 2004.

This prosecution was taken following a Site Inspection undertaken by the Office of Environmental Enforcement on 28th April 2004.