EPA Prosecutes Basta Parsons Limited

On the 25th January 2006 at Tubbercurry District Court, Co. Sligo, the EPA took a prosecution against Basta Parsons Limited under Sections 8 & 84 (2) of the Environmental Protection Agency Acts 1992 and 2003 for breaches of its IPC Licence (Reg. No. 269).

Basta Parsons Limited was accused in the summons of five charges of exceeding emissions to surface water with regard to Nickel, Copper, Zinc, Cyanide and COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand).

While Basta Parsons Limited admitted that the limits set out in the licence had been exceeded Judge McGuinness was reluctant to impose a conviction and dismissed the summons.

Basta Parsons Limited was granted an IPC licence (Reg.No.269) on 16th January 1998, for a Class 12.3 activity – Electroplating operations. The company is involved in the manufacture of a range of door and window locks, hinges and accessories. Manufacturing processes include metal pressing and finishing and electroplating. This process involves the emission to surface water of elements such as Nickel, Copper, Zinc and Cyanide. The IPC licence sets out strict limits for these parameters under which the company’s emissions must remain.