The EPA have published new guidance which addresses direct discharges to groundwater from point sources of potential pollution. It supplements the earlier report published by the EPA in 2011 entitled “Guidance on the Authorisation of Discharges to Groundwater” which focused on the technical assessment of indirect discharges to groundwater. The new guidance has the following primary objectives:...

The EPA in collaboration with the Pesticide Control Division of DAFM, Teagasc, six local authorities, Rilta Environmental Limited (a hazardous waste contractor), WEEE Ireland and the European Recycling Platform, delivered a pilot project to determine the nature and extent of on-farm stockpiling of hazardous waste. The project entailed the operation of six bring-centres for farm...

EPA are currently in the final stages of preparing their 2014 Research call. This year’s call will be worth approximately €7 million, split between the Climate, Water and Sustainability pillars. There will also be a seperate Green Enterprise call worth approximately €200,000.  EPA Research Call 2014 Provisional dates: Call opens: 27 June 2014 Applicant Deadline: 5 August...

The EPA estimate  that 30% of private wells in Ireland are contaminated by E. coli arising from animal or human waste. HSE reports a growing number of cases of VTEC – a particularly nasty form of E.coli. Analysis of cases finds that patients are up to four times more likely to have consumed untreated water...

Deadlines for Licences to be in place under the Industrial Emissions Directive have been published.  However, it is often quite alarming to find out that, many good business are not aware of new laws which could have serious implication for the sustainability and indeed the viability of their business activities. The Directive on industrial emissions 2010/75/EU...

On 6th June 2013 the Environmental Protection Agency prosecuted Galway County Council for permitting discharges from the Waste Water Works at Kilronan, Inis Mór, Aran Islands without a certificate of authorisation from the Agency. This was the EPA’s first prosecution for a breach of the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations. ECOS Environmental Consultants Limited

The EPA have published their Strategic Plan for 2013 – 2015.  The plan sets out the priority actions that the EPA will take between now and 2015 in its role as environmental regulator, knowledge provider and advocate for the environment. Clean Water, Preventing Environmental Damage, providing Accessible Information and influencing Behavioural Change are four of the nine...

The EPA has launched a new iPhone app to encourage people to report environmental pollution. You can download the App now from the iTunes App Store (search iTunes for: ‘See it Say it’) or visit http://goo.gl/gOJMa or scan the QR code here. Then, if you spot  environmental pollution or dumping, simpl open the App, take a...

Revised regulations on decorative paints and solvents were published on January 1st 2013.  Re-sprayers and dry cleaners are required by law to register with their local authority, and have their premises inspected to ensure that they use appropriate products, dispose of waste in an appropriate manner and take measures to protect the environment. The EPA...

The EPA has published the National Inspection Plan for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems 2013 and the European Commission has announced that Ireland has now adopted all the measures necessary to ensure compliance with the Court of Justice judgment in Case C‑188/08. The Plan outlines how septic tanks and waste water treatment systems will be...