Agenda item

JamesNolan updated themembersthat:

·     Responsibilityfor the management ofthewebsitehas transferredto Dublin Waste to EnergyLimited.

·     Thereis an error inthe report,construction phase monitoring reportsarenot on the websitebut weare workingto restorethem.

·     Constructionworkis ongoing but commissioninghas ceased untiltheEPA& HSA completetheir investigations

·     Operationcommencedon1^st Juneand ceasedon 7^th June.The EPA is undertaking areview oftheprocessingofmaterialduring thefirst week.

·     Therehavebeen anumberof submissions to theEPA,one inrelation to the temperaturecalibration, theEPA hasasked for areview ofthis.

·     TheEPA sought an explanation in relationto interruptions atthe facility.

 

Membersraised the following issues:

·     Informationthat ispublically availableon the EPAportal givesa root cause analysisof 3 events, event3 was the majorone(JMcC)

·     Thecause oftheincident thatresulted in casualties was the release oflime ash from thebottom of the bag housefilter(JMcC)

·     This committeerequestedthat all reports/ exchanges between theEPA and Covantabe madeavailable on the DWtE website. (JMcC)

·     Anydocuments sentto theEPA fromCovantashouldbe circulated tothe committeeimmediately(JMcC)

·     Covantahavebeen found non compliant in 3respects and theEPA hasissued 3noncompliancenotices (JMcC)

·     Problemsin relationto temperature,bag house filter problems and limeleak werenotreportedto the EPA in a timely manner(JMcC)

·     Covanta produced a rootcauseanalysisofthe problems from1^st to 8^th June whichis a public document. (JMcC)

 

Event1

 

·        On1^st Junebetween 7pmand 12.00midnight109 tonnes ofwastewas burned (JMcC)

·        There was a boilerdrum alarmat 9.20 because thewater had runoutfrom thefeedstock; it was restarted 2 hourslaterand the drumlevel control failed at12.30. The bag housepressure dropped at2.53and the plant wasshut down (JMcC)

·        A non compliancenotice issued,this should be listed in theDWtEupdate report(JMcC)

 

Event2

 

·        OnMonday5ththrough6thJune 144 tonnesof waste wasfiredfrom 4.31am–11.00am. At 11.00amthe bag housepressuredropped because therewas visual lime on the ground in the vicinity of baghouse.At 12.12 burner control wasadjusted which cause a dip in temperature.A noncompliancehas issued bythe EPAfornotadvisingthat thetemperaturedipped below850C. A requirementof thelicence is thattemperature mustnotbe below 850Cwhile waste is being burned. (JMcC)

 

Event3

 

·        On7thJunewastefiring commencedat 16.10,104 tonnes of waste was burned. (JMcC)

·        At 20.43the bag housepressurefailed again.(JMcC)

 

·        At 22.30incineration resumed and at 22.39the linestopped dueto a major release of limewhich caused the casualties.(JMcC)

 

·        Taking all 3 incidents togetherwe find the operationof the plantwas under reasonablecontrol, the bag househad repeatedfailings;repairs were made whichwere notsufficient.(JMcC)

·        1-2cubic metres oflimeash were released whichequates to 3.5– 4tonnes of limeash.   (JMcC)

·        Wecannot concludeanything, thisis a matterforthe EPA/ HSA & this committeehas norolein termsofcompliance(NOM)

·        Mr. McCarthyis raising issueswhich heis entitledto do (MM)

·        Can the eventslogs and non compliancenoticesissue tothe Committee(RM)

·        I have made no conclusions whatsoever,I’ve been putting fact beforethe Committee(JMcC)

·        John Dalyis thesourceonthe quantum of limereleased,he did so in an interview withRTE(JMcC)

·        Whatis not mentionedis that the releasewas infact fly ash;fly ash contains limeand powdered activated carbon,thePAC had been absorbingdioxins and mercury(JMcC)

·        Thestandard procedurefor reporting major incidentsdid not takeplace,staff drove in theircarsorother cars to St. Vincent’ssome5 hours after the incident.(JMcC)

·        Theexpected emergencyprocedurewasnotfollowedby the staff. (JMcC)

·        Waste remainedon the grate whilethe plant was closed (JMcC)

·        WasDCCaware thatthenon compliancenotices issued& how are non compliancenoticespublished. Thenon compliancenoticesshould havebeen brought to theattentionofthe Committeeby DCC.This committee needsto hear what Mr. McCarthyhas to say ontheseissues (events) (MM)

·        What was the clientrepresentativeobserving during thesefailings /non compliancesduring start up.(JMcC)

·        Wherearethereportsfrom Covanta, DCCManagement,CDM Smithand Exovaon commissioning/ startup. (JMcC)

 

 

JamesNolan andDickBrady responded

 

·        Thestatutorybody (EPA) has notresponded in relation to the 3 events(JN)

·        Wearedrawing conclusions fromsubmissionsmade to theEPA, theEPA has notrespondedto the submissionsyet(DB)

·        Thedocuments arewith thestatutoryauthorities who willbe examiningall of the issues.(DB)

·        It isprematurefor this committeeto arrive at a conclusion before the statutory authoritiesissue their reports (DB)

·        DCC wasaware of therootcause analysis reportbut notaware of the non compliancenoticesthatissued (JN)

·        JamesNolan to revert onhownon compliancenoticesare published

·        Therearetimeframesfor the CDM etc,reports.This hasbeen discussed previously.CR reportis based on a performancedemonstrationtestwhich is tobe carriedoutovera 30day period. The30 day period has notcommenced. Thereport will issueto thecommitteewhen completed. (JN)

·        In relationto theExovareport thereis acommissioningprocess with the CEMS systemin the plant.Thereare guidelines fromtheEPAin respectof the CEMS. Thefacilityhas to be operational for aperiodoftime and then the instack testing isundertakenby Exova,this hasnottaken place yet sothereportcan’t issue.(JN)

 

Mr.Brady referredto theemail from Mr. McCarthyin relationto outstanding items.

·        ReportonCEMScommissioning process– Thisprocess is setoutin the document thatwas senttomembers

·        Copy of Departmental Guidelineson the payment to the Chair oftheCGF Committee.  – A reportissued the meeting heldon5thApril 2017.

·        Detailed technical commissioningplan forthe incinerator– A reportissued themeeting held on 5thApril 2017.

·        Paper on howpowdered activated carbon ismanaged,monitored and controlled toinclude the planned dosages– Dealtwith earlier on at this meeting, for furtherreport.

·        Clientrepresentativesreport –James covered thisat this meeting

·        LaboratoryTesting protocol –Explanation givenearlier

·        ExovaProtocol– Issued at themeeting held on 26thApril 2017.This documentwas notfinalised and agreed with the EPA. Protocolwill issueto thecommitteewhen completed

·        Covantawebsiteto make availableall correspondence with theEPA –This is nota requirement of the licensegranted.

·        Single timelineof the phases ofcommissioningfor all audiences– DCChas specific requirementfor theCR teamto report on. In relationto the phases and timelines, thecommissioningplan was issued to thecommittee in February2017.

·        A clear and unambiguous report onthe handling andstorageoffly / bottom ash- A reportissued at themeeting heldon5thApril 2017.

·         Copy of the firesafety plan forthe incinerator– This was dealtwith earlier Mr. Joe McCarthyresponded

·        The EnvironmentSPC is charged withoversightofthe project and sufficiently detailed informationshould beprovided to fulfillthis role.

·        TheCapitareportrecommended thatthere should befrank disclosure of project information, interaction between CDM smith& Management, Covantaand the EPA, this is notbeing provided.

·        For examplethe firesafetyplan, whatwas issued totheCommitteewasa copyofa generic fire safetyplan forDublin and notthe firesafetyplan for theincinerator.

·        The Exovaprotocolwasa generic protocoland not specific tothe plant

·        Thematerialthatthe committee is given isnotissued with areasonabletime for consideration.

 

CouncillorNaoiseO’Muiri advised thatall materialis being pursued and itdistributed when assoon as itarrivesin all cases.

 

Mr. Brady responded:

 

·        Thereis an impression being given thatinformation isnotbeing given to the committee. He readthrough a list of 10or12 itemsoutstandingand thevast majority of whatwassought issued toin reportform, in some instances a numberofmonthsago.

·        Otherelementsofreports sought,explanationshave been given as to why reportsare notavailable.

·        It isnot DCC’sintention to withhold informationfrom thiscommittee.

 

Order: Noted–Follow up actions– Detailsof non compliancenoticesand howthey are published.Sequence of eventswhenthe limeleak occurred.TheEPAto be invited to present onthe 3 non compliance events.