Experts to oversee safety of Silvermines mining dump

North Tipperary County Council has announced the appointment of consultants to manage a plan aimed at making safe six toxic mining dumps close to the Silvermines village.

The council said that Golder Associates Ireland will be revitalising the 150-acre tailings pond owned by Mogul of Ireland at Gortmore.
Toxic dust has been blown on to homes and surrounding farmland since Mogul stopped mining operations in 1983. The Gortmore Environment Action Group said that one of the worst dust blows from the site in 23 years took place on June 9th, 2006.

Golder Associates provides professional services to the mining industry in Ireland. The company is based in Naas, Co. Kildare and set up a permanent base of operations in Ireland in 2005.
Work on the sites is expected to start early in 2006 as soon as Golder have appointed contractors.

A toxic waste dump at Garryard has been picked to take waste from the other dump sites. This would involve looking for planning permission. The council would also have to apply to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a hazard waste licence to move toxic waste from existing sites. Mr Cashen said it could be 2010 by the time all the rehabilitation work is finished.