P r e s s R e l e a s
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For immediate release Wednesday 9th April
A crucial decision by An Bord Pleanala to subject a peat extraction development on Clonfinane Bog in Co. Tipperary to a retrospective Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been welcomed by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC).
This will be the first ever EIA for a peat extraction development on a raised bog in Ireland since the European directive came into Irish Law in 1989.
In their decision on 21 March 1997, An Bord Pleanala considers that the development "would involve a new or extended area of 50 hectares or more" of the bog and would therefore require an EIA even though it was technically smaller than the 50ha threshold set by the Department of Environment.
Clonfinane is an actively growing raised bog of international conservation importance and has been proposed as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) by the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht under the Habitats Directive Regulations passed earlier this year.
In 1994 Premier Peat were given Leader Funds by the Department of Agriculture to develop approximately 45ha at the northern end of the bog for moss peat production. An EIA was not required for development as it was below the threshold level of 50ha set by the Department of Environment. The IPCC made a formal objection to the European Union over the use of Leader Funds to damage this important wildlife site.
In their submission the IPCC stated that the development would destroy a significant portion of the bog and threaten the hydrological integrity of the site. In the long term this would mean significant expense in management work to ensure the protection of the site as an SAC by the Irish government.
IPCC have been working on this case since 1994 objecting to the development to both the European Union and An Bord Pleanala on the basis that although only 45ha in extent, the effects of drainage would involve at least 50ha, and therefore should be subjected to EIA. In their submission IPCC also outlined the conflict between the objectives and the use of different EU expenditure programmes and the lack of an adequate screening process for projects by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
"This is the first positive step in having the EIA Directive tightened up. There have been so many loopholes in the legislation implementing the Directive to date that it has been of no benefit to wildlife and bogs whatsoever", says Dr. Peter Foss, chairman of IPCC..."This decision will mean that developers can no longer submit peat extraction proposals just below the thresholds in the EIA Directive and expect to get away without carrying out an Environmental Impact Assessment".
Twelve raised and blanket bogs have been partially damaged
by peat extraction schemes without EIA's being undertaken. IPCC
will be continuing to take action to ensure that the EIA Directive
will be effective in controlling environmentally detrimental developments
in peatland areas of conservation value.
EDITOR'S NOTE 1: The Irish Peatland Conservation Council is a national charity and is entirely supported by voluntary contributions. Conservation projects include: purchasing bogland nature reserves, providing resources and training for teachers and education groups, repairing damaged bogs, fostering a positive attitude towards bogs, and encouraging lifestyles in harmony with the environment. The IPCC can be contacted at: Capel Chambers, 119 Capel Street, Dublin 1. Tel: 01-872 2397. Registered Charity Number: CHY6829
EDITOR'S NOTE 2: The Irish Peatland Conservation Council gratefully acknowledges Indigo who have sponsored our pages on the World Wide Web.
EDITOR'S NOTE 3: The work of the Irish Peatland Conservation
Council is supported by FAS Community Employment.
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