Leitrim Farmers Left In Dark On Mineral Prospecting Licenses

Friday November 12, 2021 21:56

by foie - Friends of the Irish Environment

Press Release - Friends of the Irish Environment - 8th Nov 2021

Objection claims prospecting company failed to liaise with Leitrim farmers and landowners

An objection to the granting of prospecting licenses to Flintridge Resources Ltd in County Leitrim includes 12 letters from potentially affected farmers and landowners claiming that there ‘has been no liaison’, let alone the ‘full consideration and close liaison with relevant landowners and regulatory authorities’ required by the Department’s Guidance for Good Environmental Practice in Mineral Exploration.

PRESS RELEASE - FRIENDS OF THE IRISH ENVIRONMENT - MONDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2021
IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Objection claims prospecting company failed to liaise with Leitrim farmers and landowners

An objection to the granting of prospecting licenses to Flintridge Resources Ltd in County Leitrim includes 12 letters from potentially affected farmers and landowners claiming that there ‘has been no liaison’, let alone the ‘full consideration and close liaison with relevant landowners and regulatory authorities’ required by the Department’s Guidance for Good Environmental Practice in Mineral Exploration.

The letters are attached to the submission by Friends of the Irish Environment who claim they demonstrate the wide-spread failure of the Department to implement Government policy which is “to support the development of Ireland's mineral resources in an environmentally and socially responsible way”.

FIE says ‘in one case we have included, the landowner only met the prospecting company by chance on his/her own lands’. All the letters note ‘at no stage whatsoever did anybody from the prospective companies liaise with me (or any of my neighbours to my knowledge)’. The letters are signed and the townland of the owner given.

The objection by the environmental charity also cites a breach of EU Directives in not considering at this first opportunity the potential adverse effects on the environment, instead leaving this until the final application for the mining itself.

A spokesman for the organisation said ‘Residents and concerned citizens are alike in asking the Department to adhere to its own Guidance document and ensure the promised ‘consideration and close liaison with relevant landowners’ actually takes place with all environmental impacts considered before granting any further prospecting licences.’

Having examined the ‘Draft Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining’ of July 2021, we are disappointed that we were unable to find reference to ‘conservation’ in the context of conservation of resources going forward. Given that we are but one generation and that there will hopefully be many more generations to follow, as the current custodians of the environment it is our responsibility to ensure that there are adequate resources for future generations.

Submissions closed at midnight last night.

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Further Information: Tony Lowes 087 2176316

Objection https://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.org/images/Mining/Submission_to_oppose_Gold_Mining_in_North_Leitrim_12_supplementary_documents.pdf

Supplementary 12 Letters https://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.org/images/Mining/Submission_to_oppose_Gold_Mining_in_North_Leitrim.pdf
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