EPA ignores medical experts, OKs burners.

national | environment | news report Friday November 25, 2005 12:24 by Not RTE

It's not your problem - if you don't inhale.

Ignoring expert medical advice, the EPA has licenced a Belgian corporation to operate three waste incinerators - two in Cork ,one in Meath.

Ignoring expert medical advice the EPA has licenced a Belgian corporation to operate three waste incinerators - two in Cork ,one in Meath.

The Cork site breaches WHO guidelines on locating hazardous waste facilities. Planning was granted earlier by Bord Pleanala even though the democratically adopted County Development Plan specifically ruled out an incinerator in the Cork Harbour site.

Justifying its decision the EPA claims to be satisfied that the incinerators 'operated in accordance with licence conditions' will not harm human health.

An EU-recognised medical specialist in the field Dr Gavin 'ten Tusscher had told the EPA that adverse health effects were already detectable from levels of pollution permitted by current emission standards.

Non-compliance with licence standards is already a matter of controversy nationwide, with the State and the EPA embarrassed earlier this year when the Europena Court said Ireland was in general and persistent breach of EC environment laws on waste management.