It will cost £50 million to clean up dump at Mobuoy near Derry
This has been described as the largest unauthorised hazardous waste dump in Europe.
Derry City and Strabane District Council was previously told that it will cost £50 million to clean up the site.
Said the Foyle MLA: “I very much welcome the statement from minister Poots, indicating that progress is at last being made regarding the hazardous waste dump at Mobouy, on the edge of Derry.
“This site has been left festering for too long.
“It is excellent to see that consultants with relevant experience have been appointed and that ground investigation works have begun.
“I look forward to seeing the recommendations and then the business case for site remediation.
“This is a very large piece of work, but an absolute priority in terms of providing assurance to my constituents in Derry and also for those in the local rural area.”
“In his response to a question from Ms McLaughlin, Minister Poots said: In June 2021, my Department appointed an Integrated Consultancy Team (ICT), Tetra Tech Ltd. to deliver the optimum remediation strategy (ORS) for
implementation at the Mobuoy waste site.
“This work demonstrates my commitment to finding an effective site solution and moving forward to creating a
positive legacy for future generations.
“New ground investigation works commenced on site in November 2021. This new information will update existing environmental risk assessments and strengthen the scientific evidence required to develop and finalise the ORS.
“This strategy will further inform the Business Case in support of appointing the remediation contractor to carry out the site remediation.
“It is expected that this phase of ground investigations will be completed by March 2022.
“Stakeholder Engagement workshops, supported by Derry City and Strabane District Council, have been initiated to seek stakeholders views on the appraisal of remediation options that will be subsumed within the ORS.
“The intention is that the remediation of the site will provide a suitable platform that will support the site
vision and future uses of the site.
“My officials continue to implement a comprehensive Environmental Monitoring Programme (EMP) at the site and the River Faughan.
“There are effective governance arrangements in place with NI Water to support the ongoing protection
of the public drinking water supply abstraction.
“The size and complexity of the Mobuoy waste site means that its remediation will not be a quick fix and at this stage, a definitive timeline for the work cannot be provided.
“The ongoing criminal prosecution imposes severe limitations on project information being made publicly available.
“However, it is expected that based on successful approval of the business case, the remediation contractor will be
appointed by late 2023.
“My priority continues to be the protection of the water quality of the River Faughan and the NI Water abstraction in addition to protecting the environment by remediating this site.”
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