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Shell to Sea revisit RPS office

category mayo | environment | news report author Thursday January 17, 2008 13:08author by Rudiger

Latest update from Erris
Unite to fight raw gas pipeline
Unite to fight raw gas pipeline

Yesterday, over 30 local people again visited the RPS office in Belmullet to again let it be known that under no circumstances would they accept raw gas running through their community. Even though RPS group director PJ Rudden claimed recently to media that he was "pleasantly surprised" by the reaction to the short listed routes, he will be in no doubt what the majority of people in Kilcommon parish think of the routes following this most recent visit. Four members of the group went in to the RPS offices to outline some of their objections to the current pipeline proposals. They also handed in a petition signed by members of the community stating their objections to putting their pipeline anywhere through the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in Glengad or the Special Protection Area of Broadhaven Bay.

It also emerged recently that the County Council are once again doing their utmost to assist Shell in anyway they can. This time they have put in a planning proposal to upgrade the road from the refinery site back to Glengad (via the Leanamore road). The upgrade of the road will cease immediately after the gate down to landfall leaving no doubt who the instigators of this upgrade are. Approximately 6 kilometres of the road will be widened while the whole of the road upgrade will be strengthened with wire mesh to withstand the increase traffic that the council forsee. This is yet another slap in the face to the local community, who having been waiting for road repairs for years but must watch their Council spend their taxes on Shell's infrastructure.

It also seems that Shell are continuing with their long held strategy of blaming any problems they have on protestors actions.

During the Afri Hedge School that was held in Erris in early November, a talk was given by Fr Kevin O’Hara (who founded the Centre for Social and Corporate Responsibility, which monitors oil companies in Nigeria). He stated that in one case of an oil spill at which he was present, a Shell engineer upon turning up at the spill location was straight away able to point out to other employees what had caused the oil spill as it had been a reoccurring problem. However officially of course the Shell excuse was that sabotage had caused the oil spill. The only problem for Shell was that the Shell engineer had been caught on film directing the employees to the fault in the pipeline, which was the true cause of the spill.

It seems as if Shell are using a similar tactic here in Mayo. In the latest refinery 'Environmental Report' (18th Dec 07) that Shell has compiled, they admitted that one of their 4 dust collection points showed a reading that was well above their limit for dust deposition (measured 530mg/m2/day where 350mg/ m2/day is the limit). The dust collection pots were in place for over a month however Shell blame the high level of dust recorded on the fact that protestors “possibly vandalised” the dust gauge during an incursion on to the site on the 9th of November.

See the Environmental Reports (sic) here:
http://www.mayococo.ie/en/News/GasTerminal/Environmenta...2007/

Mary doesn't look impressed by RPS spin
Mary doesn't look impressed by RPS spin

No consent
No consent

No raw gas
No raw gas

Comments (4 of 4)

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author by Niall Harnett.publication date Thu Jan 17, 2008 15:18author address author phone

Great report as usual Rudiger.

So Shell have exposed themselves again as being the environmental saboteurs through their own fault and negligence. Yet they continue to apportion blame and bear false witness against their Erris neighbours, as is their wont internationally and historically.

The EPA remain suited up in their Dublin hotseats! Yeah right! Useless rubber stampers of pollution. And Mayo County Council and An Garda Síochána give their kiss to Shell in betrayal of their own people also, and abuse the processes of law to persecute their neighbours. At least Judas had some shame.

Ye have got some nerve you people.

And we're getting closer again to the nub of the issue.

Shell to Sea steadfast and strong despite the merciless and violent attack from the State aided by the Greens.

No Consent. No Raw Gas. No Pipe. No Project.

author by Chrissiepublication date Thu Jan 17, 2008 18:34author address author phone

If you are concerned for justice & our environment, please give support to the Erris people & Shell to Sea. The community there has been besieged, betrayed, & provoked for a long time now.

author by billy idlepublication date Fri Jan 18, 2008 13:13author address author phone

People may not know that a senior figure in RPS also sits on the board of an bord pleanala which explains alot about many of the deceisons that this state planning body comes too.

Don't forget RPS are also the chief consultants that worked for DCC in getting planning for the incinerator at Ringsend. The same shower are also working for the state on the Lough Derg abstraction plan which people in the midlands are massivly opposed too on environmental and economic grounds

author by Ripoffs per secondpublication date Wed Jan 23, 2008 17:52author address author phone




Short video on Youtube of RPS visit


http://www.indymedia.ie/article/85827

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