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Dangerous cyanide cylinders safely neutralised

Wednesday, 23 July 2008

A SENIOR executive at South Dublin County Council (SDCC) has said he was so confident of a controversial operation to make seven cylinders containing hydrogen cyanide safe that he stood only 15 feet away as the last cylinder was being neutralised.
John Quinlivan, senior executive officer at SDCC, said he was so happy with the way the operation was conducted that he was happy to stand near to the last cylinder as it was made safe at 4.30pm last Wednesday (July 16).
“We were satisfied from the start that the content of the cylinders could be disposed of safely, without risk to the public and we can confirm this now,” said Mr Quinlivan.
Neutralised
The cylinders that contained the agricultural fumigant (hydrogen cyanide/ HCN) were being stored at a South Dublin pest control company’s premises before being removed and successfully neutralised by American experts.
US firm, Integrated Environmental Services (IES), specialists in on-site management of waste compressed gas cylinders, removed the cylinders from the premises of Rentokil at Merrywell Business Park, Ballymount.
The cylinders were then taken to a SDCC owned compound at Grange Castle where four IES personnel who travelled from Atlanta and using specialist equipment flown in from the US, carried out the safe disposal procedure.
“We are used to dealing with HCN cylinders so this was a standard job for us,” said Jeffrey Gold, project manager, IES. “As usual we took full precautions and put in place all safety measures.”
IES lists the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US and Canadian governments among its clients.
The company has extensive experience and specialised expertise in eliminating the world’s most hazardous materials.
No explosives were used during the Grange Castle operation but a nearby golf course was closed during the process.
Earlier media reports claimed that a massive security operation involving 250 gardai was about to be put into operation as the cylinders were being removed to an Army firing range in County Wicklow.
Mr Quinlivan confirmed that it had originally been intended to utilise the Army rifle range in Manor Kilbride, County Wicklow but pointed out that the whole operation only involved 20 people and was a complete success.
“At first we considered the use of explosives to dispose of the contents of the cylinders, but when IES x-rayed them, they found they were substantially more stable than was anticipated,” he explained.
Alternative
The Green Party has welcomed the news that the cylinders had been disposed of safely.
Senator Deirdre de Burca (GP) said it was a relief to residents living in the Kilbride area of Wicklow where it was first suggested to take the cylinders.
"We asked the county council to explore alternative methods to neutralise the hydrogen cyanide as we were not convinced that the disposal methodologies put forward reflected the best and up-to-date environmental and health and safety practice,” she said.
SDCC said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was kept advised of all details of the work plan in advance of the operation. The EPA was satisfied with the course of action proposed in respect of protection of human health and the environment.
Air, soil and water monitoring was also carried out by environmental consultants before, during and after the work.
All waste associated with the process was taken off site by SDCC and will be exported to a hazardous waste disposal facility.
SDCC now intends to publish details of the work done by IES as part of a case history that will be made freely available to local authorities and other agencies.

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