Shell's pipeline application-deadline for objections 9th March

by dsf Tue Mar 10, 2009 15:59

The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Natural Resources Martin Ferris TD has called for an open public hearing to be established to hear all submissions on the proposed gas pipeline in Mayo. The Kerry North TD was speaking on the March 9th deadline for submissions requested by Minister Ryan.

Deputy Ferris said, "The Minister has made several tentative moves towards fulfilling his party's previous pledges to support those critical of the pipeline. None have gone anyway close to implementing the Greens position when in opposition so the least he could do now is to ensure that the submissions are given a full and open public hearing so that each side has the opportunity to both argue its case and hear what others are proposing.

"The current economic recession makes it vital that this country fully utilises its indigenous energy reserve but this will only take place once it is clear that the people of this country will benefit in real terms through a proper tax and revenue structure and that the gas supply comes on stream in a manner that meets domestic demand, pricing and safety concerns." ENDS

by observer Tue Mar 10, 2009 14:21

I gave a lot of time sending in a detailed submission last October re gas pipeline route.

I accompanied it with 50 euro as required.

Shell withdrew its submission.

However mine remains unreturned as does the 50 euro.

I was sent to varous levels in An Bord Pleanala by telephone.

I could get back my submission but not the 50 euro.

Makes you think.

Was Shell advised to withdraw by An Bord Pleanla and did I pay for that advice?

Or did Shell spontaneously change its mind.?

by lulu Mon Mar 09, 2009 17:39

The limp Greens' spineless complicity in the Great Gas Robbery & abuses in Erris is shameful, & unfairly undermines the standing of Green Parties in other countries.

by T Mon Mar 09, 2009 15:10

Submissions should be sent in to
Minister.Ryan@dcenr.gov.ie by 5 O'Clock today.

by former Green voter Mon Mar 09, 2009 14:44

With a just a few hours to go before the deadline for submissions to the Minister regarding Shell's plan to install a high pressure pipeline on shore to exploit the Corrib gas, the Minister's email inbox is reported to be filling up with submissions from concerned members fo the public.

Submissions should be sent in to
Minister.Ryan@dcenr.gov.ie
and make clear that the email is related Consultation on Application by Shell E & P Ireland Ltd. to construct an upstream pipeline in Erris County Mayo. Most people are asking for a Public Oral Hearing on the application.

Many people are quoting the Minister's own words to him- words he quickly removed from his website when he entered government. Here is what Eamon Ryan used to say on this subject:

" I have been continuously supporting the Rossport Five and other members of the local community in their opposition to Shell's development of the Corrib Gas Pipeline. The Green Party has consistently raised concerns about the safety of the project. We made a submission to An Bord Pleanala at the planning appeal stage and have constantly questioned the wisdom of running this sort of high pressure pipeline through bog-land so close to peoples homes. I have looked into this matter extensively for the last two years and nobody has been able to fully reassure me that it is safe to put such a high-pressurised and untreated gas pipeline through 9km of what is effectively a floating bog. The failure of Shell and the Government to provide full and frank disclosure of all documentation in that regard raises many questions.The manner in which the Department and the Ministers have handled the issue is also questionable and I feel they have not been fair and open in their dealings with the local people.

It will not be easy to clean up the mess the Government have made of this but we beleive the process should start with a full oral hearing into every aspect of the project. It was the lack of any oral hearing or proper public consultation process that left the local community with not other option than to protest when Shell came onto their land. "

Eamon Ryan before he entered government

by lulu Mon Mar 09, 2009 14:05

With but a few hours to go, this article should be on the 'front page' of Indymedia features!

by C Mon Mar 09, 2009 13:32

Fair play Mark on your submission

Just to remind people to make sure that you are clear that it is a submission regarding the pipeline application. Otherwise they might possibly claim that it was just a letter to the Minister.

Something like the line below could be added.

I wish to make a submission regarding the Shell E& P Ireland application under Section 40 of the Gas Act - Consent to Construct a Pipeline.

by Mark C - Contact.ie Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:52

Here is the text of an email I sent to ALL TDs using http://www.contact.ie this morning regarding the above. I have edited it slightly so that it is a general email to all TDs rather than just Green Party TDs.

Feel free to copy and send it yourself. It only takes about 2 minutes to email everyone.
----
Dear TD,

I am writing to you out of concern about the situation regarding Shell Oil in Mayo.

I am asking you to do your utmost to ensure that there is an oral hearing in to the issue.

The concerns that I and many others have have been aired many times in both mainstream and alternative media, and so I won't go through them again.

A brief outline of these concerns would include:

1)Safety Issues – issues to do with the placement of the pipeline on shore rather than at sea.
2)Danger of the Valve station at Glengad – which is quite close to domestic areas.
3)Economic (Giveaway Deal) – in these uncertain financial times, the money that could be raised from the sale of gas would go a long way towards lessening our financial woes.
4)Environmental Destruction including Birds and all marine life – because of environmentally unsound resource exploitation practices.

As I say, this is just an outline of my concerns.

Regards,
Mark Conroy
28 Forest Glade
Portumna
Co. Galway

by Mark C - Contact.ie Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:45

Here is a copy of the email I sent to Eamonn Ryan this morning about the above. Copy and send the same yourself, or edit to suit your needs.

Mark C.
-----
Dear Minister Ryan,

I am writing to you out of concern about the situation regarding Shell Oil in Mayo, an issue that the Green Party were at the centre of campaigning about.

I am asking you to do your utmost to ensure that there is an oral hearing in to the issue.

The concerns that I and many others have have been aired many times in both mainstream and alternative media, and so I won't go through them again.

A brief outline of these concerns would include:

1)Safety Issues – issues to do with the placement of the pipeline on shore rather than at sea.
2)Danger of the Valve station at Glengad – which is quite close to domestic areas.
3)Economic (Giveaway Deal) – in these uncertain financial times, the money that could be raised from the sale of gas would go a long way towards lessening our financial woes.
4)Environmental Destruction including Birds and all marine life – because of environmentally unsound resource exploitation practices; this is something that the Green Party should be very concerned about.

As I say, this is just an outline of my concerns.

Regards,
Mark Conroy
28 Forest Glade
Portumna
Co. Galway

by cable - Shell to Sea ~ Cambridge Mon Mar 09, 2009 08:51

Get writing folks, even a few lines,& show the numbers concerned! Erris lands & people need support from us all.

by T Sun Mar 08, 2009 21:17

That's an interesting website

It was designed by a Dublin company, doing Shell's PR work to tell everyone that the pipeline is safe. Oddly enough, the company, Loman Cusack Design, claims to care about the environment.

http://www.lomancusack.com/index.php?page=green-design-2

While you're sending off an email to Eamon Ryan to ask for a public oral hearing, maybe send them an email too (or give them a call) to point out the contradiction.

info@lomancusack.com

Loman Cusack Design
70 Pearse St, Dublin 2, Ireland

Alison +353 (0)1 487 7144

by Chrissie Sun Mar 08, 2009 19:15

Possible to email it to: Minister.Ryan@dcenr.gov.ie

All the details can be found here (http://www.corribgaspipeline.com/index.php?page=section...ation) but overall it's more important to put something than nothing.
Overall the submission to the Department will cover the whole pipeline from the well head to the Refinery including the valve station at Glengad.
In your submission please ask for an oral hearing. Eamon Ryan will probably try to get away with just an oral hearing for the An Bord Pleanála application so it's important to ask him for one as well on this.
Overall, some things that can be mentioned in the submission (although obviously do your own version):
- Safety Issues
- Danger of the Valve station at Glengad
- Economic (Giveaway Deal)
- Environmental Destruction including Birds and all marine life
- Surveys along Rossport Commonage. It seems they took 53 probes on the bog on Rossport Commonage last autumn and it might be that even these probes were done illegally. They were being chased off by people in Rossport whenever they were seen so it couldn't be classed as an in-depth survey.
Either way,as some of the bog there is 5 metres deep, a lot more detail should be sought. For the initial route they did percussion boring, trial pits and pipe bearing tests along the entire onshore route however they wouldn't have done any of these on Rossport Commonage. - Outflow Pipe. The new application seems to saying that they plan to use the umbilical, to carry to the waste water from the gas, back to the wells and it will be dispersed into the sea there. They will also have an outflow pipe that is just for rain water from the Terminal site, and this will be placed about 12 km offshore. This was where all the waste water was supposed to be emitted (under the licence given by the EPA) but Shell did a deal with some of the fishermen to say that nothing but rainwater would go through the outflow pipe. There is no way that they are putting in an outflow pipe just for rain water (although this might solve some of the aluminium in the lake problem).
- Maybe also that there are questions marks over AEA the consultancy firm that will be analysising the planning application for the Government (and probably the ones reading your submissions). See:http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/aug/31/royaldut...halin for some details.

by cable Sun Mar 08, 2009 19:08

Ryan needs to know of people's concerns about the peat stability, & the fact that a proper survey has not been conducted on the lands where the pipeline and valves are planned to go. There is obvious danger from a high pressure raw gas pipe, & from the refinery's pollution. Also the lands where this dangerous project is planned to be sited contain Special Areas of Conservation, where birds come to breed.

by objector Sun Mar 08, 2009 14:33

I see the deadline for writing to the minister is tomorrow. Does anyone have more details of how to do this, what to say etc?