The ability of one of Ireland\u2019s biggest creameries to produce milk has been hit by an Environmental Protection Agency order to stop discharging effluent into one of Cork\u2019s rivers.<\/p>\n
The action was taken after \u201cexceedances\u201d were detected in treated effluent discharges from North Cork Creameries in Kanturk on November 11.<\/p>\n
The EPA said although the creamery ceased discharging its effluent \u2014 wastewater from the milk processing process \u2014 from a discharge point into the nearby River Allow and began undertaking corrective action, its inspectors were not satisfied “compliance was satisfactorily restored\u201d.<\/p>\n
As a result, it has \u201cdeemed discharges should not be resumed\u201d, which \u2014 because processing milk creates a substantial amount of effluent \u2014 affects the plant’s ability to process milk.<\/p>\n
An EPA spokesperson told the Irish Examiner: \u201cOn November 14, the EPA issued a notice directing them to suspend discharges from [the discharge point into the River Allow].<\/p>\n
\u201cThe notice directs the licensee to without delay take the necessary measures to ensure compliance with the conditions of [its industrial emissions] licence is restored in the shortest possible time and to the satisfaction of the [EPA].<\/p>\n
\u201cThe licencee is required to furnish confirmation in writing to the [EPA] that compliance with the licence has been restored, and the [EPA] shall then give notice in writing to the licensee where it is satisfied to accept that confirmation, prior to any recommencement of the discharge.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The agency added: “North Cork Creameries is not currently discharging [from the River Allow discharge point].<\/p>\n
\u201cThe [EPA] awaits a response from North Cork Creameries in relation to compliance at (this point).”<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the creamery told the Irish Examiner: \u201cWe are co-operating fully with the EPA to ensure compliance with our licensed wastewater treatment requirements.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are investing very substantially in our facilities and operations in this regard. We will resume processing at the earliest time, with the approval of the EPA.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Environmental breaches of its EPA licence have been highlighted since the creamery was visited by three EPA inspectors a day after one of the biggest fish kills in Irish environmental history<\/a> was first reported on August 11.<\/p>\n It led to up to 40,000 fish being killed in the River Blackwater and the River Clyda in the Mallow area, of north Cork.<\/p>\n The fish, which included trout and salmon, were found along an 18km stretch of the river between Lombardstown and Killavullen.<\/p>\n EPA inspectors found the dairy plant non-compliant with its discharge licence in their inspection of the creamery on August 12.<\/p>\n They discovered there had been a discharge into the River Allow that had occurred from the plant just hours before they arrived.<\/p>\n They would later say in their report into that site visit that \u200bcreamery staff told them the discharge \u201cmay have caused environmental pollution\u201d.<\/p>\n