environmental impact statement kilmainhamwood compost facility ...

5361- Kilmainhamwood Compost Facility Extension- EIS
2 EXISTING SITE AND PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
2.1 DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING SITE
The site at Ballynalurgan, Kilmainhamwood, Kells, Co. Meath is situated approximately 2.4 km
northeast of the village of Kilmainhamwood, 6 km northwest of the village of Nobber, Co. Meath, and 4
km south of Kingscourt, Co.Cavan. The site, of approximately 13.2 hectares, is in the townlands of
Ballynalurgan and Newcastle.
The site is made up of two fields. One field, of approximately 7.7 hectares, extends from the Kingscourt
to Nobber road (R162) in the southwest to a second inner field, of approximately 5.5 hectares, to the
northeast of the site. This 7.7 hectare field, in the form of a narrow strip of land, runs parallel to an
original passage/driveway and is set in permanent grass. This field is bordered to the northwest by a
wire fence. The original passage/driveway is divided from this strip of land by an earthen bank which is
topped with shrubs and some mature trees. The southern end of this field which adjoins the R162 road
is bordered by a stream which runs from east to west where it goes under the original
passage/driveway passage then under the road where it descends into Newcastle Lough.
The second inner field, of approximately 5.5 hectares, previously planted for commercial forestry, is
now the location of the existing Kilmainhamwood Compost facility. Planted trees were cleared from the
centre of this field, an area of approximately 1.4 hectares, for the development of the existing facility.
This field is bordered on all sides by a traditional earthen bank topped with a variety of trees and
shrubs, except for the northern boundary which borders on open ditch where the water flows from west
to east. The northern section of the earthen bank to the east of the field borders on open ditch where
the water flows from northwest to southeast.
For inspection purposes only.
Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.
The original vehicle passage/driveway of approximately 0.7 km in length existed prior to the
development of the existing facility and runs from the inner field to the Kingscourt / Nobber road (R162).
As part of the development of the existing facility, a 5m wide road of approximately 0.85km in length
was constructed from the facility to the R162 regional road to facilitate the movement of delivery
vehicles to the composting facility located in the inner field. This road is parallel to the existing
passage/driveway and on the opposite side of the earthen bank such that the earthen bank separates
the original passageway from the recently constructed road. As this road approaches the R162 regional
road, it diverges (to the south) away from the original passage/driveway so as to provide adequate
visibility on both sides of the site entrance.
The gross floor area of the existing composting buildings (indoor area) is approximately 4550m 2 .The
existing facility buildings are a steel portal frame design featuring 3.0m high mass concrete walls and
green cladding. The apex of the roof is 12.5m above ground level.
The existing facility comprises of 22 No. positively aerated composting bays and 2 No. positively
aerated Animal By-product (ABP) treatment tunnels. Each composting bay is 5.750m wide and
9
EPA Export 01-06-2010:03:55:50