THE first Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licence for a mine project in Ireland has been granted by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Last Friday, Ivernia West and Minorco Lisheen were granted the licence which imposes strict environmental and safety conditions on working a lead zinc mine at Lisheen, Co Tipperary.established outside the mine, allowing the public to review monitoring data.

An Bord Pleanala granted planning permission for development of the mine on May 30th despite strong local objections. An initial two-year period of construction work by Minorco, employing 725 people, will begin this summer.

Arrangements with the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources for granting a State Mining Lease are continuing.

Ivernia and Minorco say they spent over Pounds 2 million preparing an Environmental Impact Statement, establishing environmental monitoring activities and funding archaeological investigations.