The proposed gas terminal for North Mayo may adversely affect fauna, flora and water-drainage systems in the area, objectors to the project claimed yesterday.
During day four of Bord Pleanala's hearing on the matter, issues were raised as to the validity of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prepared by applicants Enterprise Energy Ireland for the project and which was employed by Mayo County Council in its consideration for granting planning permission.
It was complained that the EIS did not extend to consider the possible impacts of construction and operation works on the ecology of the areas surrounding the site, which include designated Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas.
Mr David Ball, a consultant for Bord Pleanala, agreed that information regarding a section of the site was out of date, as works had since been carried out on it. The item was adjourned and an up-to-date report must now be furnished.
Mr Joe Tierney, for Bellanaboy Concerned Residents Group, noted that no monitoring of heavy metal leakage - which could affect shellfish and oyster farms in the vicinity - had been mentioned by the applicants.
The blanket bog in question was one of the most extensive tracts of the bog in the country and six metres deep. Any disruption to the peat could clog up the streams with peat fraction and be washed into surface water and onwards to freshwater where it could clog fish scales and do other damage.
Blasting would also have a very strong effect on the sensitive flora and fauna in the area.
"In a worst-case scenario, if the contained ponds for silt burst and got into the local water system, silting it, it could result in the clogging of gills in fishes and spawning beds becoming chemically polluted," he said.
Mr Cecil Shine, hydro-geologist for EEI, said that one million cubic metres of material, of which 56 per cent was peat, would be removed. All earth-moving would be confined within the site boundary, thereby reducing dust, noise and traffic disturbance. The quality of water run-off would be monitored.