EPA prosecuted Gas Networks Ireland (W0281-01)

Hearing Date: June 04, 2021

On the 4^th of June 2021, at Limerick District Court the Environmental Protection Agency prosecuted Gas Networks Ireland (W0281-01), Dock Road, Limerick, for breaching conditions of its Industrial Emissions Licence.

The company pleaded guilty to the following charges:

• Failure to comply with Condition 5.2 of the Industrial Emissions Licence, in that emissions of odours from the activities carried on at the site resulted in an impairment of, or an interference with amenities of the environment beyond the installation boundary, on 8 dates, i.e. on the 26^th of May 2020, 8^th of June 2020, 11^th of June 2020, 17^th of June 2020, 17^th of July 2020, 27^th of July 2020, 18^th of August 2020 and 2^nd of September 2020.

• Failure to comply with Condition 6.2 of the Industrial Emissions Licence, by failing to carry out sampling, analyses, measurements or examinations of VOCs as set out in schedule C.1.2 and C.5 of the said licence, namely in respect of emissions in the ambient environment, on the 31^st of December 2019.

• Failure to comply with Condition 4.3 of the Industrial Emissions Licence, in that noise from the installation gave rise to sound pressure levels, measured at the boundary of the installation, which exceeded the daytime limit values as set out in Schedule B.4 of the said licence, on the 22^nd of July 2020.

Judge Harney convicted Gas Networks Ireland on all 10 charges and imposed a fine of €2,000 on each charge (fines totalling €20,000). Agency costs were also awarded.