EPA investigating gas oil spill in Cork

The Environmental Protection Agency is investigating following a spill of gas oil into Cork Harbour on Monday.

Members of the public are advised not to use the shoreline in the vicinity of Irving Oil in Whitegate until the clean-up of the spill has been completed.

In a statement, the EPA confirmed it was notified of a spill of gas oil by Irving Oil Ltd. The site operator also notified the Port of Cork, Irish Coast Guard, Cork County Council, the Health and Safety Authority and local businesses.

An inspection at 9am on the morning of January 22 discovered that gas oil had leaked from a small gauge pipe onto a marshy area below it and then into Cork Harbour. 

"A spill response team was mobilised by the operator and the leak was contained by 1pm. The damaged equipment was repaired at 7pm on Monday evening," the EPA statement said.

The team also began attempts to recover oil from the marshy area and to minimise the extent of impact to the harbour, beaches and surrounding areas, including by means of containment booms.

"On the morning of Tuesday 23rd January, the operator reported that the spill response team is continuing to carry out cleanup operations and are assessing impacts to the shoreline, waterbody and local ecology as a result of the spill," the statement continued.

"EPA staff are on site to investigate the incident and to ensure that appropriate corrective actions are put in place to limit the impact of the spill.

"Additional information will be provided on the EPA website as further updates are received, and a full site inspection report published when available.

"Once our investigations are completed, the EPA will consider further enforcement action in line with our Compliance and Enforcement Policy.

"Members of the public are advised not to use the shoreline in the vicinity of Irving Oil until the clean-up has been completed."

Social Democrats councillor Liam Quaide said:  "Whitegate residents are reporting a strong odour in the area since the gas oil spill on Monday. 

"I'm very glad to hear that the EPA are on site and investigating the need for corrective action."