North Tipperary County Council has announced the appointment of consultants to oversee a €10.5 million plan aimed at making safe six toxic mining dumps close to the village of Silvermines.
The council says that one of the first priorities of Golder Associates Ireland will be to rehabilitate the 150-acre tailings pond owned by Mogul of Ireland at Gortmore. Toxic dust, containing lead, zinc and cadmium has been blown sporadically on to nearby homes and surrounding farmland since Mogul ceased mining operations there in 1983. The Gortmore Environment Action Group reported that one of the worst dust blows from the site in 23 years took place on June 9th last, sparking major health fears.
Golder Associates, which has been providing professional services to the mining industry in Ireland for more than 30 years, is based in Naas, Co Kildare. An international company, it established a permanent base of operations in Ireland last year.
The council's environment director Karl Cashen said work on rehabilitating the sites was expected to start early next year once Golder had appointed contractors.
He said a toxic waste dump at Garryard had been chosen to take waste from the other dump sites, which would involve seeking planning permission. The council would also have to apply to the Environmental Protection Agency for a hazard waste licence to move toxic waste from existing sites. Mr Cashen said it could be 2010 by the time all the rehabilitation work is completed.