MINUTES OF MEETING OF PROJECT MONITORING COMMITTEE (PMC) HELD IN THE CIVIC OFFICES, BELMULLET, ON 16^th MAY 2007 AT 11.00am.

Chairman:                   Mr. D. Mahon, County Manager

Present:                      Ms. Agnes McLaverty, SEPIL

                                    Mr. Tony Doyle, SEPIL

                        Mr. Terry Nolan, SEPIL

                                    Mr. Enda McDonagh, Bord na Móna

                                    Mr. Paddy Mahon, Mayo County Council

                                    Mr. Peter Hynes, Mayo County Council

Mr. Ciarán Ó hÓbain, Dept. CMNR

Mr. Dick McKeever, Dept. CMNR

                                    Sergeant James Gill,  An Garda Síochana

Mr. Denis Strong, National Parks & Wildlife Service

Mr. Ray Smith, EPA

Mr. Vincent Roche, NWRFB

Apologies:                  Mr. Gerry Costello, SEPIL

                                    Mr. Gerard McDonnell, Community Representative

                                    Mr. Nicholas Whyte, Community Representative

In attendance:            Mr. John Coll, Director of Services, Mayo County Council

                                    Ms. Muriel Finnerty, Mayo County Council

1.         Minutes

The Minutes of the Project Monitoring Committee Meeting held on 3^rd April 2007 and already circulated, were approved having been proposed by Mr. Ó hÓbáin and seconded by Mr. Roche.

2.         Matters arising

There were no matters arising.

3.         Community Representation - update

Mr. Coll informed the meeting that five nominations had been received from the Registered Groups in the area in respect of the selection of additional Community Representatives to the Project Monitoring Committee (3) and the Environmental Monitoring Group (2).

In the interests of progressing community representation, two of the nominees (Chris Tallott and Richard Cosgrove) had agreed to stand down and act as substitutes/reserves, if required.

The PMC then accepted and agreed to the nomination of Mr. Seamus Gaughan as a Community Representative on the Committee.

4.         Water Quality – Carrowmore Lake

Mr. P. Mahon outlined the position as set out in report and results of analysis circulated to the meeting on water quality in Carrowmore Lake – copy of which are available on Mayo County Council’s website – www.mayococo.ie .

At the request of Mr. Roche it was agreed to make the results, in a more comprehensive format, available to the North Western Regional Fisheries Board.

Mr. Hynes informed the meeting that both he and Mr. P. Mahon had met with members of the protest groups who recently queried the water quality in Carrowmore Lake.

At the request of the Chairman, it was agreed that Ms. E. Cavanaugh, Environmental Officer would give a presentation to the next meeting of the PMC outlining the scope of monitoring being carried out in the area.

5.         Updates:

· Roadworks/Transportation

Mr. P. Mahon informed the meeting that peat transportation had commenced since early April 2007 and indicated that the condition of the Haul Route is being monitored regularly by Mayo County Council.

· Bord na Móna

Mr. McDonagh outlined the up to date position on the Srahmore Peat Repository as set out in Environmental Management System Up-Date No. 23 (copy of which is available on www.mayococo.ie ) and indicated that the Shrahmore site was fully compliant regarding emissions with no complaints received or incidents recorded at the site since the last meeting.

6.         Update on Terminal 

Mr. Nolan updated the meeting on the works undertaken to date, ongoing construction operations and outlook from May 2007 onwards as set out in report circulated on the Bellanaboy Bridge Site (copy of which is available on www.mayococo.ie)

Due to the unavoidable absence of the Community Representatives, Mr. Hynes indicated that he was requested to raise the following issue:

· That Shell would consider the financing of the widening of the Aughoose Road to Aughoose village. Mr. Nolan undertook to have this matter considered.

7.         Environmental Issues

Mr. P. Mahon updated the meeting on the recent diesel spills and indicated that neither spill had any impact on water quality in the Bellanaboy River.

Mr. Doyle summarised the position on environmental issues as set out in report dated 16^th May 2006 (copy of which is available on www.mayococo.ie)

8.         Community Fund

A discussion took place on the Community Fund Framework Document, already circulated, and it was agreed: –

(i)         To advertise the Scheme

(ii)        To establish the Evaluation Committee

(ii)        That the applications would be processed by the Community and Enterprise Department of Mayo County Council.

9.         Court Cases 

Mr. Nolan informed the meeting that Ms. Justice Mary Laffoy had now issued a judgement on the High Court Hearing held on 16^th January 2007 which allows Shell to discontinue its claims against opponents of the gas pipeline.

10.       Local Issues

Mr. Hynes raised some issues highlighted by local groups which both he and Mr. P. Mahon had met with recently.   These included:

· Perception that concerns of protesters were not being addressed by the PMC

· Lack of feedback from local Community Representatives on the PMC

It was agreed that this matter would be deferred to the next meeting due to the unavoidable absence of the Community Representatives.

Ms. McLaverty informed the meeting that some allegations, particularly regarding lack of responses to queries, phone calls, etc. were put on record at the EPA’s Oral Hearing held recently.

It was agreed that a procedure would be put in place in the County Council Office in relation to response to phone calls, e-mails, etc.

It was agreed that an item be placed on the Agenda for the next PMC Meeting regarding undergrounding of Eircom lines adjacent to the Terminal Site.

The meeting then agreed that the next meeting of the PMC will be held in Belmullet Civic Offices on 20^th June 2007 at 11.00am.

This concluded the business of the meeting.