Concern over chemical disposal

[riflemangundy]

RTE

Tuesday, 10 June 2008 17:01

Concern has been expressed about a plan by a pest control company to destroy a batch of chemicals at a Defence Forces site in Co Wicklow.

Rentokil is planning to use a UK company to dispose of the substance at an army base in Kilbride.

Locals say they are worried about the move but the firm says the process is safe.

Anybody have any idea whats the story?

[DeV]

Hydrogen Cyanide to be destroyed by explosion

If it was safe bring it to the UK or do it in there own premises.

[FMolloy]

Hydrogen Cyanide to be destroyed by explosion

If it was safe bring it to the UK or do it in there own premises.

I don't see why we should be exporting it to another country for disposal, we'd go mad if someone was to suggest the opposite.

[Truck Driver]

Heard about this on the news this evening. The stuff is to be destroyed by slow burn, induced by a controlled explosion, on June 23rd.

Gas ! Gas ! Gas ! .......

[mrbing]

great right in the middle of the pots course. ingenius thinking there

[criodan]

Fear over blowing up of lethal chemical
TIM O'BRIEN

PLANS TO destroy 15kg of waste hydrogen cyanide by explosion in the Wicklow Mountains later this month have been confirmed by South Dublin County Council.

Hydrogen cyanide was once a commonly-used agricultural poison and a concentration of 300mg per cubed metre of air is lethal to humans within minutes.

The chemical is listed in Schedule 3 of the UN Chemical Weapons Convention as a potential weapon of mass destruction and it is no longer used as a fumigant in countries which are signatories to the convention.

In a statement yesterday South Dublin County Council said it had been approached by pest-control company Rentokil about the safe destruction of its stock of hydrogen cyanide which has been on site for decades.

The council said the advice from its own health and safety team, chemical experts and the chemical manufacturer was that cylinders containing the material, including seals and valves, were intact and safe.

The council said the operation to destroy the hydrogen cyanide was being overseen with the help of the Army, Department of Defence, Garda, the Health and Safety Authority, the HSE, experts from the private sector and its own health and safety team.

The plan is also being risk assessed by international contractors expert in chemical destruction, while the Environmental Protection Agency said it accepted assurances from experts that the explosion and burning methods involved were acceptable.

The destruction will involve the material being taken by road to Kilbride military camp, near Brittas in west Co Wicklow by Monday, June 23rd. Seven canisters will be involved in the operation, five of which are empty and two of which are partially empty. It is understood the canisters will be placed in a larger container of diesel and the entire surrounded by railway sleepers. An explosive charge provided by the Army will be used to blow open the canisters while the burning diesel will then burn off the hydrogen cyanide. Hydrogen cyanide turns to a volatile gas at 26 degrees and spokesman for the council John Quinlivan said the explosive charge was merely to open the canisters so the material would be buried off “within seconds”.

Mr Quinlivan said there was no doubt that the material was dangerous. But he said all relevant parties had been consulted as to best practice and the location had been provided by the Department of Defence to allow for a safe distance from any homes or businesses. “It can kill, it is dangerous, but the destruction is as safe as we can make it,” he said.

However, Wicklow Sinn Féin councillor John Brady said he was unhappy with the process of destruction and the site. He said locals had not been told of the plans and there was a risk to hill walkers, livestock and the local river, which he said drains into the Blessington reservoir. Mr Brady said it was inconceivable that Minister for the Environment John Gormley, who opposes incineration, had approved the burning of such a dangerous chemical.

However, a spokesman for the Department of the Environment said South Dublin County Council as the waste management authority was the lead agency in the operation. “All contact was at officials level and the department took no organisational role. We only advised and facilitated,” he said.

Irish Times

i thought these fellows in SF loved a good explosion...must have got it wrong

[DeV]

Advertising the movement of something that is classified as a WMD brillant lads!!

[koppiteal]

That sounds great. there are some elements of my BN going to be in kilbride that week for camp. Whats the bets that it changes(again)

[hptmurphy]

Advertising the movement of something that is classified as a WMD brillant lads

and to think that America invaded Iraq over lesser amounts of substances that didn't actually exist..

Honestly George.....we have no WMD capabilities....

[Goldie fish]

No wonder the US Government is backing libertas for a No Vote.... first libertas, then chemical weapons....
Wait till the weapons inspectors withdraw...

[Truck Driver]

That sounds great. there are some elements of my BN going to be in kilbride that week for camp. Whats the bets that it changes(again)

Yes, it certainly will.

Without elaborating too much, there has already been effects elsewhere.

Heard on the local radio station that both South Dublin and Wicklow County Councils were approached for spokespersons - defaening silence from both.

Also mentioned was the probability that residents in the immediate area of the camp are being asked to evacuate for a number of days...

[Goldie fish]

PDFORRA have now expressed concerns about the disposal, and the lack of consultation with their members at the location.

[Bravo20]

Right, lets calm things down.

It is clear that we are talking about the same course. Irishmilitaria, there is more to it than the disposal of chemicals in Kilbride. It is being handled at the appropriate level, and does not need a press release from RDFRA.

[Mods can we move these posts to the RDFRA Communications thread please]

[FMolloy]

Posters should get back on topic now, leave the RDFRA comments for the proper thread.

[Duffman]

ha ha so theres more chance of chemical weapons coming out of wicklow than Iraq what are the odds, maybe osama is hiding in the glen! Convenient G W was visiting up north eh?! I reckon it was all an excuse to launch a recce so prep for a war on terror on poor unsuspecting Ireland.