The Shell approach to the planning process

mayo | environment | other press Tuesday August 19, 2008 13:14 by Mayo News Reader

information on habitats left off maps shown to specialist advisors

According to Sunday's Daily Mail, Shell misled the experts who were tasked with assessing the company's planning application for the proposed onshore pipeline route.

Julie Fossitt, Senior Ecologist with the National Parks and Wildlife Services and author of the standard reference work "A Guide to Habitats in Ireland" asserted in a memo released under Freedom of Information legislation, that '‘key information was withheld from specialists whose opinions were included in the planning documents" and that ‘the project ecologists did not have access to key sections of the proposed pipeline route’.

The "Special Area of Conservation" at Glengad beach

According to Ms.Fossitt, the company simply excluded from maps those protected habitats likely to be affected by the development . It was only when she visited the area that she realised the deception which had been carried out.

Today's Mayo News reports that the Dept of Environment has criticised Shell's approach to the planning process. An official was quoted saying: “It is the view of this Department that the Environmental Impact Statement submitted was deficient and the information provided was inadequate in a number of respects.

The Department of Environment say they have no control over the current work going at Glengad Beach even though it is a Special Area of Conservation. Consents for this work were received from Minister for Natural Resources Eamon Ryan, and Tánaiste Mary Coughlan when she was Minister for Agriculture.

Spokespeople for Shell are declining to comment on the issues relating to the planning process. Asked what the company's response would be to interference with the arrival of the giant pipe laying ship The Solitaire, Shell also refused to comment.

Yesterday activists from the Rossport Solidarity Camp erected a marquee on private land at Glengad and briefly occupied the Shell compound on the beach.

Read the full Mayo News article here:

http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&tas...id=38