Project Monitoring Committee

 

Minutes of the Project Monitoring Committee Meeting held on 13th February 2008 at 11.00 am in Áras an Chontae, Castlebar

 

Chairman:                   Mr. D. Mahon, County Manager

 

Present:                      Ms. Agnes McLaverty, Shell E & P. Ireland Limited
                                    Mr. Gerry Costello, Shell E & P Ireland Limited

                                    Mr. Tony Doyle, Shell E & P Ireland Limited

                                    Mr. Brendan Butler, Shell E & P. Ireland Limited

                                    Mr. Seamus Gaughan, Community Representative

Sgt. James Gill, An Garda Síochana
            Mr. Kieran Lynn, Mayo County Council - Project Manager
            Mr. Peter Hynes, Mayo County Council
            Mr. Vincent Roche, North Western Regional Fisheries Board

                                    Mr. Gerard McDonnell, Community Representative

Mr. Ciáran Ó hÓbain, Dept. CENR

Mr. Denis Strong, National Parks & Wildlife Service

Mr. Richard Cosgrove, Bord na Móna


Apologies:                  Mr. Enda McDonagh, Bord na Móna

                        Mr. Nicholas Whyte, Community Representative

Mr. Ray Smith, Environmental Protection Agency

Mr. Dick McKeever, Dept.Agriculture, Fisheries & Food        

 

In Attendance:           Ms. Muriel Finnerty, Mayo County Council

 

 

 

The Chairman welcomed Mr. Kieran Lynn, Mayo County Council’s Project Manager to the Project Monitoring Committee.

 

In relation to meetings of the Project Monitoring Committee, it was agreed that meetings would be held on the following dates:

16th April 2008

14th May 2008

11th June 2008

9th July 2008

 

 

1.                  Minutes

 

The Minutes of the Project Monitoring Committee Meeting held on 12th December 2007, and which were already circulated, were approved having been proposed by Mr. Costello and seconded by Mr. Hynes.

2.         Matters arising

 

There were no matters arising.

 

 

3.         Water Quality – Carrowmore Lake

 

Mr. Lynn outlined the position in relation to water quality in Carrowmore Lake as outlined in report and results of analysis circulated and available on the Council’s website – www.mayococo.ie.    These results show that the discharge of surface water from the Terminal Site had no significant impact on the water quality of the Bellanaboy River, Carrowmore Lake or drinking water produced at the Erris Regional Water Supply Scheme at Barnatra.

 

Mr. Lynn informed the meeting that the surface water runoff from the terminal footprint had caused no significant impact on the water quality of the Bellanaboy River and Carrowmore Lake.

 

 

4.         Updates:

 

§         Roads/Transportation

Mr. Hynes indicated that the Transportation Plan has been updated.

 

§         Bord na Móna

Mr. Cosgrove updated the meeting on the Shrahmore Peat Repository as set out in report circulated – copy of which is available on www.mayococo.ie.   He indicated that there were no non-compliances, no complaints received and no incidents recorded at the site since the last meeting of the PMC.

 

 

5.         Update on Terminal

 

Mr. Butler updated the meeting on the Bellanaboy Bridge Site as set out in report circulated to the meeting – copy of which is available on www.mayococo.ie    He issued an invitation to the members of the Project Monitoring Committee to visit the site at any stage and it was agreed to do so.

 

 

6.                  Environmental Issues

 

Mr. Doyle outlined the position in relation to environmental matters as set out in report  circulated to the meeting on the Bellanaboy Bridge Site – copy of which is available on www.mayococo.ie


7.         Community Fund

 

Mr. Hynes outlined the up to date position in relation to the Community Fund projects-

§         Attavally – The village Enhancement Project is substantially complete

§         Bellanaboy Community Group – work will commence in early March 2008

The Chairman undertook to write to the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs regarding CLÁR funding in respect of this Scheme.

§         Glencullen River Scheme – A plan has been completed and it is intended to commence work in early May 2008

§         Bangor Angling Scheme – Project Manager has been appointed and it is expected that matching funds will be confirmed by June 2008.   Planning and Foreshore applications are pending.  

In relation to this Scheme, Mr. McDonnell undertook to liaise with all the stakeholders in order to have it progressed as soon as possible.

 

 

8.         Court Cases

 

Mr. Costello outlined the position in relation to –

§         Application for leave for Judicial Review of the IPPC Licence

As the IPPC Licence comes into effect in mid-2009, Shell E & P are not currently operating under this Licence.

§         On-shore pipeline proceedings

 

 

9.         Local Issues

 

Mr. Butler indicated that the work on Eircom cables in the vicinity of the Terminal has now been finalised to enable switching to underground lines.

 

Mr. McDonnell raised a number of issues:

§         He expressed the appreciation of the community in regard to proposed road project from Terminal Building to Glengad which the developers are financing.

§         He requested Shell to consider employing more people from the Kilcommon area, if possible.

Mr. Butler informed the meeting that in excess of 600 people are currently employed on site, of which approximately 63% are from the Mayo area.   However, due to the skills/training required for some positions, it is not always possible to source employees locally.

 

 

10.       Any other business

 

Mr. Strong outlined details of the International Peatland Conference which will be held in June 2008 in Tullamore with the post conference tour being undertaken in County Mayo.    The Bord na Móna Peatland Deposition Site will form part of this tour.

 

The Chairman pledged the full support of the Project Monitoring Committee and Mayo County Council for this Conference.

 

 

It was agreed that the next meeting of the PMC will take place at the Bellanaboy Terminal Site on 16th April 2008.

 

 

This concluded the business of the meeting.