“Muswell Grove” Upper Cork Hill Youghal Co. Cork.

1 1 th October 2005

Environmental Protection Agency The Licensing Unit P.O. Box 3000 Johnstown Castle Estate Wexford

RE : Proposed A.V.R. Sludge Drying Plant in Youghal, Co. Cork

Dear Sirs,

I am writing this letter to you regarding the proposed A.V.R. plant in Youghal. The reason I am doing this is because of my husbands and my very grave concerns for the fbture health of our four young children. All I ask is for you to please take the time to read my letter and the enclosed article that appeared in our local paper in July. If you genuinely feel that this plant will pose no threat to my family then, obviously, A.V.R. will be granted a licence but at least we won’t have it on our conscience that we didn’t try to stop it.

Our beautifid coastal town has been designated a Heritage town with our local council only last week unveiling a “heritage-led regeneration strategy for Youghal”, indeed in the Cork County Council’s own Cork Area Strategic Plan (C.A.S.P.) document (that took over 5 years to complete) they themselves designated Youghal “a prime tourist, heritage and marine leisure centre”.

My husband and I returned fiom London 9 years ago and invested our life savings in building our new home which is situated on Cork Hill, our home and many hundred more, will be directly in the path of the prevailing wind fiom this plant and will have to endure the awful stench fkom the 24hr operations at this plant, although AVR state that there will be no smell all research shows that this is not the case. Also I would ask you to please consider the consequences of any accident or spillage, only this week Irish Distillers “accidentally” leaked 94,000 gallons of sludge into Cork HarbOLlI-.

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Look at the proximity of this proposed plant to the mouth of the Blackwater River, wildlife reserve and our beautifid harbour, all it would need would be a storm as fierce as the one last October to flood the whole area.

As you will have guessed, my family and I feel extremely worried about this plant. I’m gratell to you if you have read the contents of my correspondence and I put the future safety of my children’s health in the hands, it’s as simple as that!!

1 +&SC

Thanking you for your time.

Yours faithfully,

14a- @!yeAJ MRS. KAREN GALLOGLE

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EasEork & West Waterford News & Advertiser Classified Advertising And Display Advertising e 021- 4613333 024 - 20180

Vo1.1645 No. 19.lh&g ,My 219 2005 RiCe:4250

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decisron to sanction a waste recovery and non-toxic sludge drying plant in Youghal. The way is now cleared for AVR-Environmental SBIutions (a joint venture between AVR-Safeway in Fermoy and SWS natural Resources, Bandon) to proceed with the 12m euro oper- ation on the 3.5 acre at Foxhole, subject to acquiring an EPA waste licence. Most of the 23 onginal planning objections submitted to Cork Co. Counc~l formed part of ‘-2 submissions to the Bord. The authonty declined to

Inspector found in favour of the objections but his dec- sion was over-ruled by the board members. Fred Rigby, (pictured above at the Youghal site), spokesman for anti- plant group Youghal Environmental Safety (YES) said this “makes it particularly disappointing. It seems to be a regular poliucal thing now and brings into question the independence of An Bord Pleanaa from government influence We’d like to see the Inspector’s report”, he added. See further covetage on Pages 56 and 57.

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. - P A G E 5 '7 * % I M O K I L L Y P E O P L E ;,

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Imokilly People reporter, Sinead Kenefick discusses the AVR Sludge Plant with Fred Rigby in the industnal areas cater for the waste products of other 'Irg It' WdY luug''d''

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P A G E 5 6 D M O K I L L Y P E O P L E

An Bord Pleadla has upheld Cork County Council’s decision to sanction a waste recovery and non- Christy Parker Reports toxic sludge drying plant in Youghal. The way is now cleared for AVR-Environmental Solutions (a vehemently opposed the plant and Its far better than havlng an inaner- - - - ^

joint venture between with the 12m euro ope1

Council formed part of the submis- sions to the Bord - the authority declined to accommodate an oral

f hearing. In the event, the Case Inspector found in f a v o u r 3

emment influen&. We’d like to see the Inspector’s report”, he added.

What Will The Plant Include?

The plant will incorporate waste recovery and transfer buildings,, sludge reception and drying build- ings and waste-water treatment plant. Projected employment is quot- ed at 17 (though some critics claim this only reflects ‘employer parking spaces’) and -ox imatelv 40 lor-

‘ _ries c-

splant. AVR says the principle activi- ty will be recovering recyclable materials such as paper, cardboard, elass, plastic and metals, while an

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annual‘ ?O,OOO tons of industrial sludge for drying will be n o n z ardous. They in& there will be no odours or pollution, wind-borne or otherwise. Bord Pleanila imposed eleven con- ditions, mostly relevant to landscap- ing visual impact.,These iitclude “completion of road improvement works” pertinent to the narrow access, prior to operations com- mencing. The Foxhole site is leased by

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I attractive, heritage-based tourist des- . the 1980s. AVR carries no intimation tination.” However, her town coun- of chimney stacks expelling fumes cil colleague Cllr. Oliver Casey, who of toxicity for us to inhale. There The benefit to the citizens favours the development, says he appears no direct threat to our water Youghal is a relatively pitif “isn’t surprised” at the decision. “As supplies and the location is tradition- €27,000 per annum and possibly a country we must accept responsi- ally synonymous with waste treat- jobs, against the liabilities outlio bility for treating our own by-prod- ment. Nobodv lives near the dump. . above. One can’t really blame AV

has to wonder how this situation w allowed to transpire.

P ~ o s ~ e r ~ u s Yo@ai and their sub-leasing tenants f reaping a far ncher profit from t lucrative waste management mark And last winter most people left t response to someone else anyway

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