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RESIDENTS RAISE SINKHOLE WARNING SIGNS OVER SHELL TUNNEL

Screen Shot 2013-07-15 at 07.03.50The warning signs which read “Danger Sinkholes: Keep Back” were erected in order to warn users of the estuary of presence of the sinkhole, which have been up to 8 foot deep.  Residents were forced to put up the warning signs after both Mayo County Council and the Department of Energy & Natural Resources, despite being contacted, have failed to take any action.

News release – Issued by Shell to Sea
Monday 15th July 2013

RESIDENTS RAISE SINKHOLE WARNING SIGNS OVER SHELL TUNNEL
— Local community forced to act after State agencies ignore danger —

Yesterday, local residents and supporters raised signs on Sruwaddacon estuary, warning of the sinkholes that continue to appear over Shell’s tunnel.  Residents first noticed the sinkholes beginning to appear in the special area of conservation on the 20th May and numerous sinkholes have appeared along the tunnel route since then.

The warning signs which read “Danger Sinkholes: Keep Back” were erected in order to warn users of the estuary of presence of the sinkhole, which have been up to 8 foot deep.  Residents were forced to put up the warning signs after both Mayo County Council and the Department of Energy & Natural Resources, despite being contacted, have failed to take any action.

The National Parks & Wildlife Service are also believed not to have investigated thus far the possible damage that may be occurring to the benthic life in the estuary, despite the area being both a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area.

Shell to Sea spokesperson Terence Conway stated “When Shell experts were giving evidence in the oral hearing, there wasn’t a word about sinkholes and the bubbling up of possible contaminated material to the surface of the special area of conservation“.[1]

Shell have previously sent up to 10 workers with shovels out on the estuary in a failed attempt to fill in the sinkholes.

Mr Conway continued  “We can currently follow the path of the tunnel by the trail of sinkholes that  have appeared on the strand. Failure to regulate has caused alot of suffering in Ireland, yet the Government are still allowing Shell to do whatever they want.  The sinkholes are further proof that the Government continues to abandon their responsibility to regulate Shell.

ENDS

For more information contact:    
Maura Harrington:    087 9591474
Terence Conway:     086 0866264

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Links

Photos of today available on www.shelltosea.com

[1] YouTube Video: What’s happening in Shell’s Tunnel? - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hvz2l27Ooc

[2] Reports of sinkholes above Corrib tunnel investigated
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/reports-of-sinkholes-above-corrib-tunnel-investigated-1.1454717

[3] Midwest Radio Clip about third sink-hole in Sruwaddacon estuary
http://www.shelltosea.com/content/midwest-radio-clip-about-third-sink-hole-sruwaddacon-estuary

The Shell to Sea Campaign has three main aims:

1) That any exploitation of the Corrib gas field be done in a safe way that will not expose the local community in Erris to unnecessary health, safety and environmental risks.
2) To renegotiate the terms of the Great Oil and Gas Giveaway, which sees Ireland’s 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent* off the West Coast go directly to the oil companies, with the Irish State retaining a 0% share, no energy security of supply and only 25% tax on profits against which all costs can be deducted.
3) To seek justice for the human rights abuses suffered by Shell to Sea campaigners due to their opposition to Shell’s proposed inland refinery.

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

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