The oral hearing into a proposed gas terminal at Bellanaboy Bridge, north Mayo, was yesterday adjourned until today after inspectors for An Bord Pleanála queried the use of two sets of contours in map drawings submitted by the developer, Enterprise Energy Ireland (EEI).
Mr David Ball, assistant to Inspector Kevin Moore, observed at day six of the reconvened hearing that photomontages and aerial views of the site seemed to have been measured in different ways.
Mr Moore subsequently adjourned the hearing to allow EEI establish whether the position of the proposed terminal had been correctly identified from the outset. A reply is expected today.
Earlier, it was stated that no smoke or impurities would escape from the plant.
Mr John Easey, terminal project manager, said methane gas was a very clean-burn ignition source with combustion of almost 90 per cent. There would be no smoke from it or the engines used to burn it. The only time any smoke might escape would be momentarily when first starting up and testing the fire pumps.
"The most you might see, and only on a very clear day, would be a heat haze from the stacks. Otherwise, it would be invisible."
Mr Thomas Byrnes, for EEI, said the eight-mile pipeline from the landfall site, which is to pass through a forest plantation, would not be visible.
EEI also submitted that illumination of the plant at night-time would be similar to a small number of street lights, which would be seen as pinpricks of light anywhere in the countryside.
Mr Enda Keane, a forester for EEI, said he believed the pipeline would help sustain plantation growth as it would lead to better drainage.
Mr Edward Moran, representing Friends of the Environment and local residents, asked why no physical profile of the proposed plant had been erected on site by the developer.
"People in this area who are building anything which comes under scrutiny are asked to erect a profile and have to do so at considerable expense. Here we have a colossal structure but no profile. Even a barrage of balloons up there would at least let us know about bulk, extent and vastness in this project."
The reconvened oral hearing was expected to finish last Friday. It has now been announced that it will run at least to the end of this week and possibly into next week.