REPRESENTATION PERMANENTE
DE L’IRLANDE
AUPRES DE
L’UNION EUROPEENNE

RUE FROISSART 89-93
1040 BRUXELLES

TEL. 230 85 80

 

FAX 230 32 03

G (2001) ANUQA
-9.04. 2001

      

6" April 2001

Secretary-General,

Commission ofthe European Union,
Rue de laLoi,

B 1049 Brussels.

Dear Secretary-General

I have been asked by my authorities to refer to the Commission’s letters of
12 September, 2000 (reference SG (2000) D/106657) and 9 February, 2001 (reference SG (2000)
D/286065) regarding the implementation of,

ei Directive 91/271/EEC concerning waste water treatment, and

5 Directive 91/676/EEC relating to the pollution of waters against pollution
caused by nitrates from agricultural sources.

My authorities indicated in previous responses to these letters that an assessment of the trophic
status ofestuaries and bays in Ireland was being finalised by the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA). My authorities are pleased to advise that this assessment has been completed by the EPA.
Copies of the assessment report are enclosed for your information.

The report sets out clearly the basis for assessment of the trophic status waters by reference to the
terms of the UWWT Directive and the Nitrates Directive. The assessment concludes that the
following thirteen tidal waters are eutrophic :-

Broadmeadow Estuary Inner
Liffey Estuary

Slaney Estuary Upper
Slaney Estuary Lower
Barrow Estuary

Suir Estuary Upper

Lee Estuary/Lough Mahon

Upper Bandon Estuary
Lower Bandon Estuary
Upper Lee Estuary (Tralee)
Upper Feale Estuary
Cashen/Feale Estuary
Killybegs Harbour

In addition, the following four tidal waters are assessed as being potentially eutrophic :-

Castletown Estuary

Blackwater Estuary Upper
Blackwater Estuary Lower
Owennacurra Estuary/North Channel.

In my response to the Commission of 6 February, 2001 in relation to Complaint 2000/2047, I
advised that in the context ofareview ofthe designation of sensitive areas, consideration had been
given to the terms of the ERM Verification Study and additional monitoring data, and as a
consequence my authorities proposed to designate all or part of the following seven freshwater
bodies as sensitive areas :-

Blackwater River (Monaghan)
Brosna River

Cavan River

Proules River

Lough Ennell

Monalty Lough

Lough Muckno.

I also indicated that a number of other freshwaters were under consideration for designation as
sensitive areas and that the decisions of my authorities in this regard would be notified to the
Commission as soon as possible. This review based on most recently available data has now been
completed and it is proposed to designate all or part of the following freshwater rivers :-

Barrow

Triogue

Nore

Hind

Suir

Bunow

Black water (Munster).

Work is well advanced on the drafting of legislation formally to designate the above-mentioned

water bodies as sensitive areas. A copy of the draft legislation will be communicated to the
Commission very shortly.

In the context of Complaint 1994/2238 concerning the implementation of Directive 91/676/EEC,
the EPA assessment of trophic status of estuaries and bays will serve as a major input to the
identification of surface waters affected by pollution by nitrates from agricultural sources. All
eutrophic and potentially eutrophic estuarine waters are being considered for possible identification
as affected waters, and the relevant drainage areas will, where appropriate, be designated as Nitrate
Vulnerable Zones. The process of identification of such affected waters will have regard to all
relevant monitoring data for freshwater rivers draining to these estuaries and to agricultural
databases e.g. animal stocking rates, areas under tillage, estimates of organic and N usage and soil
types. My authorities are attaching high priority to this process and are committed to completing
all necessary designations by end 2001.

My authorities are also reviewing the position concerning groundwaters affected by nitrate
pollution. In this regard, it is proposed to reconstitute the Groundwaters Expert Panel (comprising
representatives from DELG, EPA, DAFRD and GSI) to make recommendations as to the
identification of further affected groundwaters where necessary. With regard to the thirteen
groundwaters which have already been identified by my authorities as being affected waters, the
catchment areas to be designated as nitrate vulnerable zones will be determined during the current
year following the receipt of recommendations of the five local authorities concerned. The local
authorities are being assisted in this regard by comprehensive guidelines which were prepared by
the Geological Survey ofIreland. A copy ofthe document entitled ‘Guidelines for the Delineation
ofNitrate Vulnerable Zones for Groundwaters Affected by Nitrate Contamination from Agricultural
Sources’ is enclosed.

My authorities advise me that a substantive reply to Complaint 1994/2238 is in the course of
preparation and request that you agree to extend the deadline for replying to the Complaint to 9 June

2001.

Yours sincerely

Environment Attache

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