NO RISK is currently pertaining to members of the public despite the multi-million asbestos remediation project in West Clare not yet reaching its conclusion.
Up to June 2013, ten sites in the Kilrush and Kilkee area were identified as being used for unlicensed deposition of asbestos containing materials (ACMs) and asbestos cement pipe as part of surplus spoil from various sources over several years.
Measures were implemented by Clare County Council “to immediately eliminate potential for risk to the public, followed by evaluation of the scale of the issue,” in 2014, Seán Lenihan of the project management office outlined.
This work was broken down into phases, the first in 2014 involved risk mitigation and containment, the removal of broken or loose ACMs, air monitoring, covering geotextile and fencing erection. Phase two lasting from 2015 to 2020 was focused on discovery and feasibility, it included soil sampling, quantification, risk assessment and mapping areas to quantify the scale of the issue, remediation options were costed.
In phase three, final remediation works to seven of the remaining sites is to be carried out from 2022 to 2023. Options on the table are to cover in situ and monitor or permanently remove and dispose, the latter the favoured choice of Council officials.
Lenihan assured that the sites are “routinely monitored” by Council staff in line with EPA requirements “and to ensure that there is no immediate risk to workers or the general public”.
Tenders were issued in December on the appointment of engineering consultants for phase three. Submissions are currently under evaluation with the consultant to be appointed, imminently.
Designs are to be finalised this year with officials hopeful the construction stage will be concluded by the third quarter of 2023, subject to the availability of funding.
