Crackdown on illegal peat extraction operators in Longford is 'resource intensive'

There is large scale illegal peat extraction taking place at four sites in county Longford with a cumulative total area of more than 200 hectares without any of the necessary county council authorisations, it has emerged.

However, despite the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strongly criticising the 'minimal' inaction by local authorities, Longford County Council has been praised for 'issuing enforcement notices' and doing more than any other.

The EPA published its 'Large Scale illegal Peat Extraction in Ireland' report last Thursday.

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The State body said it has investigated 38 sites across seven counties – Longford, Offaly, Kildare, Laois, Westmeath, Roscommon and Sligo.

These illegal operations are contributing to an export trade of 300,000 tonnes of peat annually, valued at almost €40 million. 

Tom Ryan, the Director of the EPA with responsibility for the Office of Environmental Enforcement, said four sites above 50 hectares -an area of more than 200 hectares in total - has been identified in county Longford with heavy machinery used by professional rogue groups during industrial-type illegal operations.

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The precise locations were not revealed for operational reasons as the investigations are currently ongoing.

The EPA said they deployed significant resources to carry out 170 enforcement inspections between 2021 and 2024 and it has also taken legal actions at District Court and High Court level against operations on areas greater than 50 hectares.

Dr Ryan, one of the authors of the report, said the local authorities have generally taken what he would describe as 'minimal' action to stop this catastrophic destruction of the local environment.

However, the EPA Director praised Longford County Council for for doing more than any other local authority and issuing enforcement notices'.

Dr Ryan said while there is some evidence of historical enforcement activity and some site inspections there is no significant enforcement follow-ups nationwide.

"In fairness one local authority has taken more action than others and has issued enforcement notices under planning and a section 63 process has commenced and that is to be commended and encouraged and they are moving in the right direction and that is county Longford.

"However, he said among the remaining six local authorities the responses they have received have been underwhelming and the level of activity is 'minimal'.

Dr Ryan said illegal, large-scale extraction of peat is widespread in Ireland and he described local authority enforcement performance in this area as 'patently inadequate'.

"The sector does not operate within planning or environmental laws,” he said.

"From our perspective it is clear that these operators are engaged in activities that are in flagrant violation of environmental law and are destroying these precious natural environments and this needs to stop."

Dr Ryan stated if those operators wish to continue they need to engage with the appropriate regulations, the local authorities for the appropriate permits and the EPA where those operations are above 50 hectares in 'footprint'.

"All of these operations whether they are above or below 50 hectares come within the remit of local authorities.

"The local authorities need to step up to meet their legal obligations as regulatory authorities, they need to prioritise their resources and use ample enforcement powers at their disposal to bring these illegal activities to an end and to protect our environment."

The report author stated if an operation is greater than 50 hectares it requires planning permission from the local authorities based on an environmental assessment and it needs a licence from the EPA.

Dr Ryan said the legal actions have resulted in the cessation of illegal peat extractions on several peatlands in recent years and a number of actions remain live before the courts. 

“Operators engaged in unauthorised peat harvesting activities are in flagrant violation of environmental law.

"They are destroying our precious natural environments and this needs to stop," he added.

Dr Ryan said the environmental damage caused by large-scale peat extraction operating outside regulatory control is catastrophic for the environment.

He stated it results in the destruction of vital ecosystems for biodiversity, the loss of important carbon sinks for our efforts on climate change and the decimation of an irreplaceable cultural and scientific amenity and resource.

The EPA said local authorities have the primary responsibility for regulating all commercial peat extraction, specifically regarding compliance with environmental legislation including the performance of Environmental Impact Assessments,

Appropriate Assessments associated with protected habitats.

Dr Ryan stated 'local authorities have been conspicuous in their lack of enforcement of environmental law'.

"They need to step up to meet their legal obligations as regulatory authorities, prioritise their resources and use the ample enforcement powers at their disposal to bring these illegal activities to an end and to protect our environment.”

Dr Ryan stated here are three main industrial type processes used to extract peat which include 'Milled peat', 'Big Sod Peat' and 'Wet Peat' extraction.

Dr Ryan said the four sites in county Longford are mostly milled peat sites with the extraction done in a phased process and all of the shrubbery and surface habitats are initially stripped away.

"Drains are dug, water is pumped away, the water table is lowered, the top layer of peat is then milled and harrowed and dried in the sun. It's harvested and stockpiled in the bog and this type of operation is a heavily weather dependent activity.”

Dr Ryan said the EPA is directing local authorities to take appropriate enforcement actions against such operations within their jurisdiction.

“Bord na Móna is an excellent example of where appropriate engagement with the environmental regulations, including EPA licensing requirements, has worked to minimise the negative impacts of peat harvesting on the environment and to secure the longer-term rehabilitation of those harvested peatlands.”