EPA investigates as dead fish spotted at Corkbeg in East Cork 

Staff from the Environmental Protection Agency undertook an inspection of the Corkbeg beach area in Whitegate this week.

It comes following reports that a member of the public had discovered a white coloured discharge with a solvent-type odour and had also observed dead fish on the shoreline.

The EPA confirmed that its staff had visited the area on Monday and had also met with staff from the nearby Irving Oil Whitegate Refinery Limited. During its visit, the EPA noted dead fish trapped in a tidal pool and rock pools approximately 400m north of the discharge points from Irving Oil.

In its statement, the EPA said “a direct link with a discharge from Irving Oil has yet to be established”.

“A solvent-type release from the site has not been detected and the cause of the white discolouration in the discharge from an Irving Oil pipe is under investigation,” it stated.

“Samples have been taken from discharge points and receiving waters and a site visit report and monitoring report will be available on LEAP online in due course.”

Comment has been sought from Irving Oil regarding the incident. The EPA said that the latest incident was not related to an oil incident which occurred in January of this year.

“The compliance investigation relating to the oil spill incident is expected to be closed soon once updates in relation to the remediation programme have been finalised,” the EPA said.