Many expect oral hearing to be a "rubber stamp" for Shell

mayo | environment | other press Tuesday April 17, 2007 14:02 by Shell to Sea dublinshelltosea at gmail dot com

Concerns expressed about Shell's record on environmental destruction.

Fishermen troubled by outfall.

Many say that EPA hearing is a "rubber stamp" process.

Cops cram the hotel where inquiry to be held.

Translators provided are for the benefit of English speakers who need Irish translated, English used throughout.

Article from Mayo News below

Protests against Bellanaboy refinery last week

Tuesday, 17 April 2007
Differences remain as oral hearing begins

Áine Ryan
IN BELMULLET

THE EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has been strongly criticised for not ensuring that officials from a number of State authorities attended the oral hearing, in Belmullet, into the awarding of an Integrated Pollution Prevention Control Licence (IPPC) to Shell for the Corrib gas project.

Ms Imelda Moran, one of the 13 appellants challenging the awarding of a licence for the Corrib gas refinery, said at the first day of the hearing on Monday, that representatives from Mayo County Council, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and An Bord Pleanála should have been mandated to attend, particularly due to the integrated dimension of the proposed license. In reply, the hearings Chairman, Mr Frank Clinton, said the County Council had been invited but were not obliged to attend.

A solicitor representing Shell said he took exception to a comment by Ms Moran regarding the company having one of the most horrendous environmental records on this planet. She was referring to the unprecedented nature of the refinery and to the fact that Shell was allowed monitor its own operations rather than having an independent body, such as a university, do so.

Link to the rest of the article here: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2pyzdh