A bord Pleanála hearing has heard assurances that a proposed gas terminal for north Mayo would not adversely affect the terrestrial ecology in the area. The assurances were made by a senior staff member of Mayo County Council at the close of the first week of the Ballina hearing.
Ms Breda Gannon, senior executive planner with the council, said: "It is accepted that the principal impact during construction is the removal of large quantities of material which has the potential, if not properly managed, to seriously impact surrounding watercourses, lakes, estuaries, designated areas and marine ecology.
"A total of 600,000 cubic metres of peat and till deposits will be removed, resulting in total loss of habitat. These are habitats which are widespread and common in this location, i.e. wetlands, coniferous plantation and scrub and fauna habitats. The species there are common, and measures will be taken to protect those species listed under the Habitats Directive, including badgers and frogs.
"Mayo County Council is satisfied that, if the development is carried out in accordance with mitigation measures included in the conditions of planning attached to the council's permission, it will not adversely impact on aquatic habitats and will not affect the integrity of the designated sites in the area."
Expert evidence from biologists and ecologists on behalf of the applicant company, Enterprise Energy Ireland (EEI), further endorsed the council's findings.
Prof John Joseph Bracken, of UCD Zoology Department, said that any activities at the terminal would have no influence on spawning grounds, which were mainly upstream of the proposed site, because drainage water from the site could only affect lower reaches of the Bellanaboy river.
Dr David Phillips, a consultant biologist, said that studies had been completed showing that EEI could be completely confident that the treated waste waters from the terminal would not adversely impact upon receiving waters.
EEI's waste-water treatment plans would in fact result in reduced levels of contaminants in the final discharge which would be much lower than was normally required, he added.
Challenges to the submissions were made by objectors to the project, who include representatives of Friends of the Environment, Dúchas, Erris Inshore Fisheries Association and local landowners and residents.
The oral hearing, which was scheduled to last for two weeks, may well run into a third.