27^th April 2022

Gyproc have been progressing with the development of a new playing pitch for Magheracloone Mitchells GFC at a site adjacent to the R179. As part of the development the road will be widened outside the site and a right hand turning lane is being installed to allow traffic to safely enter and exit the site. The roadworks are expected to take up to 6 days and are planned to commence on the 3rd May. During the roadworks, it will be necessary to slow traffic and adopt a stop-go system to facilitate the work. We appreciate your patience while the work is being done.

28^th February 2022

As part of our ongoing monitoring of the old Drumgoosat mine workings and in particular the surface depression we reported on December 14th a crownhole of 10.8m has developed at the edge of this area. The crownhole is on Gyproc lands and is located 330 metres from the nearest private home and 300 metres from the nearest road which is the R179.

In keeping with established protocols, the crownhole has been inspected, the relevant authorities have been informed and the area is fenced off with the necessary signage in place. We will continue to monitor and survey the area and provide updated information on any developments to keep people informed.

14^th December 2021

Gyproc continues to monitor the area’s that relate to the Drumgossatt mine workings as part of our ongoing safety management program. We hope this program provides reassurance to the community that our focus on the mine workings continues to be a priority. A routine survey on the 13^th December has noted a surface depression on Gyproc lands, not close to any private homes, public infrastructure or bordering roads. This depression is 294 meters from the nearest road, which is the R179, and 222 meters from the nearest dwelling. It presents no risk to public infrastructure and the area has been fenced off with the necessary signage in place.  In keeping with best practice, we have notified all relevant Governmental and County Council authorities. We will continue to monitor and survey the area and provide updated information on any developments to keep people informed.

25^th January 2021

Following the submission of an application for a new playing pitch, dressing room and parking facilities on a new site for Magheracloone GAA, planning permission has been granted by Monaghan County Council. Gyproc and Magheracloone GAA held a shared ambition to shorten the time period between the club moving from temporary facilities to a permanent home playing pitch. This permission will fast track the development of a home pitch to play matches and train for the club. The proposed site for the new playing pitch is on land owned by Gyproc. This application was made following consultation with Magheracloone GAA Club to expedite the time between the club moving from a temporary to permanent playing pitch.

General Update

• It is important to state that full replacement of all GAA and Community Centre facilities will be restored to the Magheracloone area irrespective of the outcome of any future mining planning applications and we remain committed to the wider community we have been a part of for over 80 year's

• Remediation of the original site of the 2018 subsidence and any subsequent crownholes was fully completed and landscaped during 2020. A monitoring system, using extensometers, is in place for the R179 and the LP4900

• We continue to monitor and survey the area and provide updated information from surveys to the relevant authorities when necessary. There has been no further crownholes over the Drumgossatt mine workings since April 2020

June 30^th 2020

Please see below an update of the progress on some activities we had previously issued a communicate about.

Following the drilling program commenced in late 2019, and subsequent ducting works completed earlier this year, we are now preparing to complete the installation of extensometers in the mine workings. We are planning that the works will take place week commencing July 6^th. All going well the work will take about one week and upon completion of the commissioning of the equipment, this will see the same standard of monitoring system in place for the R179 as has already been installed along the LP4900.

The final grading and landscaping of the area of the September 2018 subsidence event has now been completed with remediation works now fully complete at that site.

GYPROC LICENCE REVIEW

April 20^th

This document is an information update on the company’s licence review with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The review that is underway is of Gyproc’s Industrial Emissions Licence (IE) and we look forward to its conclusion.

All details of the IE licence review process are available to the public and can be found at http://www.epa.ie/licensing/. 

For ease, a key update on the IE licence review process is below.

• Gyproc is not proposing any change to its mining activities as part of this licence review.
• Gyproc, as part of its normal mining operations, releases into the river Bursk naturally occurring groundwater with naturally elevated sulphate levels. 
• This water has been released in accordance with an IE licence issued by the EPA for many years. The rate of water release and methodology continues to be monitored by Gyproc and reported to the EPA. 
• An ongoing program of monitoring has been in place for many years regarding the release of this water and monitoring takes place at agreed points and at agreed frequencies along the River Bursk and further downstream. The results of the monitoring are reported to the EPA on a regular basis.
• The groundwater, when initially found, is pumped to conditioning tanks on the surface prior to release to the River Bursk. This water contains no additives – either when found or when released to the River Bursk. 
• The water released by Gyproc contains naturally occurring sulphate (also sometimes spelled sulfate) and the amount of water released can vary somewhat at different times of the year depending on the flow of water in the river.
• The IE Licence controls the quantity of water that Gyproc releases at any moment in time by imposing a limit on concentration of Sulphate in the River Bursk a short distance downstream of the release point.
• Since the water levels in the River Bursk can vary at different times of the year, the current IE Licence granted has the effect of requiring Gyproc to store water during the summer and release it in the winter. For many years until Oct 2018, this water was stored in the old Drumgossatt mine workings.
• Acknowledging that the quantity and nature of the water found underground can vary from time to time, Gyproc is not seeking permission, nor does it intend to, materially increase the amount of water or total quantity of sulphate that it is permitted to release during normal operations. Under the proposals submitted by Gyproc as part of the licence review, the total amount of sulphate in the water discharged by Gyproc to the river over the course of a year will not significantly change and will reflect a more evenly spread release throughout the year. 
• This allows Gyproc to avoid the storage of large quantities of water in the underground workings in the Drumgossatt or Drummond mines.
• The proposal from Gyproc, is made following careful study of the nature and impact of the water release on the River Bursk which has taken place for the duration of quarrying and mining activity at the Drummond site, in operation for more than 30 years. The licence review application is supported by detailed technical studies on the releases proposed by the company, the nature of the groundwater itself and its effect on the habitat of the River Bursk and the water courses it joins as it travels downstream.
• These studies are consolidated in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR), and all data and technical reports which explain in detail the releases proposed and the impact it will have on the environment are publicly available on the EPA website. (http://www.epa.ie/terminalfour/ippc/ippc-view.jsp?regno=P0519-04)

Information on Sulphate/Sulfate

It is important to note that sulphate is a naturally occurring substance and many tests have been conducted internationally to assess the impact of sulphate consumption among humans and animals. One such study is available on the World Health Organisation (WHO) website (https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/chemicals/sulfate.pdf). This report concludes in section 7 of the report; “The existing data do not identify a level of sulfate in drinking-water that is likely to cause adverse human health effects.” And that “..no increase in diarrhoea, dehydration or weight loss.” is attributed to sulphate in drinking water for humans.

Gyproc are maintaining the survey programs in place that monitor the lands and roads in area’s that relate to their mine workings. The monitoring program is important to ensure ongoing safety and we hope it provides reassurance to the community that our focus on the mine workings has not been diluted even during this unprecedented crisis of COVID-19.

Much of the routine monitoring takes place on a monthly schedule and the next round of surveying starts on April 13^th.

Over the next four weeks, in line with the program agreed with the authorities in late 2019, we will also prepare the area for the installation of extensometers in the mine workings under the R179. This work will involve a small number of personnel, and will be carried out in strict accordance with the HSE guidelines regarding COVID-19.

The installation of the extensometers, which is expected to be completed in May, will see a monitoring system in place for the R179 to the same standard as has already been installed for the LP4900.  All the relevant authorities have been informed.

Gyproc remain committed to the completion of the reparation works at the site of the September 2018 subsidence event and continue to review how to complete the works in a timely and safe manner.

22^nd January 2020

Subsidence of material at pre-existing crown hole on Gyproc lands

• 16m wide and 11m deep subsidence at pre-existing crown hole over old mine workings on Gyproc lands
• Crown holes occur over old mine workings and no additional movement has been observed at the site

During a routine inspection on the morning of Saturday 18th January 2020, it was noted that a circular shaped subsidence hole measuring approximately 16m wide and 11m deep had appeared on the site of a pre-existing mining crown hole that had first occurred in August 2019.  The subsidence noted on Saturday, 18^th January 2020 is not a new crown hole; it is the subsidence of material that was used to backfill the original August 2019 crown hole.  It is located approximately one-third of a kilometre from the nearest dwelling. The area is located entirely within Gyproc owned lands and is not close to any private homes, public infrastructure or bordering roads (it is located 280 metres north of the R179). 

Gyproc has, in line with best practice and its stringent mining licence regulations, fenced off the area, advised the relevant authorities and has investigated the matter further.  Gyproc is confident it poses no risk to the public and no additional land movement has been observed at the site since.

The site of this subsidence is at a pre-existing crown hole that appeared in August 2019 over old and known mine workings. Since becoming aware of this subsidence at the crown hole, Gyproc has continued to monitor and survey the area and can now provide updated information as of today, 22 January 2020.

What happened?

The infill material used to backfill the crown hole that appeared in August 2019 has moved and settled further into the crown hole and this has resulted in the surface hole appearing at the site.

How did it happen?

This is being investigated at present.  The view expressed by the mine engineering team who have reviewed the site suggests that the reason for the fresh subsidence at the site of this crown hole is likely due to the fact that the mine workings beneath the original crown hole in August 2019 contain water.  

The material that initially fell into the water in the August 2019 crown hole has most likely settled a short distance from the base of the crown hole.  Over time, this material has settled further, and this then created the space for crown hole infill material to move, creating the surface feature and subsidence that has now appeared.

What has Gyproc done since observing this fresh subsidence?

Gyproc has engaged mine engineering experts to review the risks and report on any actions to take.  We continue to monitor the area and survey the area and will continue to keep people informed.

The drone survey conducted on 21.02.20 does not indicate any additional surface movements at the site.

What is the current update on the Planning Application?

Gyproc has not yet confirmed an exact date for submitting a planning application for an open cast mine at Drumgossatt.  As shared with members of the local community recently, we do expect it to be in the first half of 2020 though not in the first quarter. We believe it is very important for the whole community to have the opportunity to consider any developments in advance, to be given all the relevant and correct information and we look forward to the opportunity to engage with the community proactively through information sharing events in advance of submitting any application. 

Gyproc update to the Residents Forum on December 10^th

• A routine survey on 10^th December noted surface cracks adjacent to the borehole area and to the west of the 2018 subsidence. It presents no risk to the public infrastructure. The relevant authorities have been notified. The area is on Gyproc lands and is 220m from the R179 and 330m from the nearest dwelling.

• Monitoring of the LP4900 using the extensometers has been in place since August 21^st 2019. The system is working well and will continue into the future. The results to date show that the mine workings under the road remain stable. The highest reading noted so far was 0.35mm. Note, action is only required if movement is over 10mm. A report by SRK on the level monitoring carried out over the past year will be made available to the residents’ forum representatives.

• There have been 38 Drone surveys now carried out since the original subsidence event in September 2018 and these will also continue into the future.

• Remedial works of the grounds of the original subsidence have been completed with all surface cracks and crownholes filled and made safe. The fencing put in place to reduce the risk of persons accessing the grounds will be removed in the coming weeks.

• Works recommended during the investigation of the December 2018 crownhole to improve surface drainage over the old mines have also been completed to minimise surface water entering the old mine workings.

• There have been 5 boreholes completed as part of the study of the R179 road, laser scans of those areas will start in the coming weeks and will be completed in early 2020. It is expected that this study will be completed by March, then zones for the installation of extensometers will be confirmed. It is hoped to have them installed by the end of April. The objective is to have the same monitoring system in place on the R179 as exists now on the LP4900.

• De-watering the old Drumgossatt mine has currently paused due to a fault identified in the in well pipe – equipment required to correct this fault has been ordered from the USA and once the fault is corrected, de-watering will recommence.

• Water release from the Drummond mine continues to the River Bursk and the rain over the last few months has had its normal effect. There have been no breaches to the discharge licence in Nov/Dec and one very minor breach in October.

Update December 18^th

• Further drone surveys on the area noted on the 10^th December have recorded no change in conditions since it was first identified on the 10^th. The area has been fenced off and signposted as dangerous ground. There is a depression of the ground in the area and it is close to the area of the crownhole of August 7^th. It will continue to be monitored.   

Statement from Gyproc regarding summons notice received from the Environmental Protection Agency

• ‘The results of this monitoring program were reported to the EPA on a regular basis, and have indicated there has been no adverse impact on the receiving waters.’

Gyproc today can confirm that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued summons to Gyproc in connection with the release of ground water into the river Bursk. The summons alleges that sulphate levels in the groundwater released from the Drummond mine into the River Bursk caused the permitted sulphate levels to be exceeded at monitoring points contained in our Industrial Emissions Licence.

In summer 2018, when the water inflow to the Drummond mine occurred, Gyproc notified the EPA.

In October 2018, when the release of naturally occurring ground water with elevated sulphate levels was necessitated, a substantially increased program of monitoring was put in place and details of the monitoring program were communicated to the EPA. The results of this monitoring program were reported to the EPA on a regular basis, and have indicated there has been no adverse impact on the receiving waters. The rate of water release and methodology continues to be monitored by Gyproc and reported to the EPA.

Gyproc, which has been mining in the area for 80 years, has at all times prioritised the safety of the public and local environment in its management of water discharge activity

Dear member of the community,

Firstly, thank you again for your continued patience and cooperation throughout this process.  In this update we’re sharing some details of the work done recently related to the L4900.  I also want to ensure you have my contact details if you want to get in touch with me.  My mobile number is 087 259 9238.

At the outset can I say that we genuinely and fully appreciate your concerns about the ongoing road closure and I can assure you that everyone is doing their best to get this resolved and ensure the safe re-opening of the L4900. 

In terms of the key work done over the past while by Gyproc, the latest updates are:

April 2019

• Gyproc’s report into the crown hole that appeared in December 2018, which was undertaken by the independent consulting firm SRK, was completed and submitted to the relevant authorities and groups.  The work done to complete this report included the drilling of 25 boreholes and analysis of the rock cores to assess the status of the mine workings in the area.

May 2019

• Gyproc representatives met with a group of residents to explain to them the scans and visuals of the underground mine that were part of the SRK report.  This meeting also gave residents the opportunity to ask questions of our technical staff.  If you could not make that meeting or would like to meet us for a briefing like this, please contact me and we will arrange a similar session for you.
• A drainage survey was proposed, and this was completed in early May 2019.  Some additional drainage works and the installation of the extensometers are planned. Gyproc will fund the entirety of the drainage works and the installation of the extensometers.  Extensometers are devices to monitor the condition of the mine and provide analysis of the mine environment to indicate possible changes.

June 2019

• The provision of temporary facilities for Magheracloone GAA Club is now complete.

• Given the damage from the original subsidence incident, we do unfortunately have to demolish the GAA Club / Community Centre to ensure the area is safe.  This is quite a complex piece of work and we have almost completed the design of the demolition programme.  We aim to have the demolition works complete by year end, though this is subject to confirmation and may change.
• We’ve started ground works at Knocknacran quarry to ensure the Gyproc factory at Kingscourt continues to have access to a supply of gypsum rock from within Ireland.
• In the field opposite O’Rourkes filling station, a temporary stone track has been put in place to facilitate a drill rig. This drill rig will create a borehole which will allow us to continue to reduce the water levels in Drumgossatt old mine workings.

In terms of upcoming activity:

• Monaghan County Council has indicated that, subject to the completion of agreed drainage works and the installation of monitoring equipment, a decision on whether it is safe to reopen the L4900 road will be made within 2 weeks.

• In terms of future mining plans, we are currently starting to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) on the area of the old mine workings to assess the environmental impact of future mining in the area. While this is not a planning application in itself, it does form an important and informative part of the overall planning process. The EIAR scoping report, which describes the issues that will be studied in the EIAR, was submitted to the relevant statutory bodies recently and will be shared with community representatives shortly.

I would like to take this opportunity to assure you again that we are committed to doing whatever is necessary to see the safe re-opening of the L4900 road as soon as possible.  I do hope that the above information is useful to you and I can assure you that we are fully committed to supporting the community that we have been part of for over 80 years.

Kind regards,

Pat McEnaney

Community Liason Manager

Dear member of the community,

Thank you once again for your continued co-operation throughout this process.  As we continue to make progress, we remain fully committed to providing the community with as much information as we can.  In this update, we are sharing with you the latest information on the work being done on the L4900 road as well as other information which we hope you find helpful.

Drumgossatt mine workings map

As committed to at the first forum meeting, we have included in this updated map providing details on the inner mine workings, and showing the levels of workings within the old drumgossatt mine. If you have any queries on the maps please do make contact with us and we would be happy to meet you to discuss.

Technical update on L4900 study

The following is the update from the technical working group which consists of representatives of Monaghan County Council Engineering Department, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) and consultants Wardell Armstrong, the EPA, Gyproc and consulting engineering company SRK.

A very comprehensive examination of the L4900 road has been completed. This study included drilling 25 bore holes (23 along the road) which facilitated the use of specialist cloud & sonar scanning equipment which created a detailed picture of the underground conditions.  SRK consultant engineers have completed a report on the road using the data collected during this examination. This report and the accompanying data was submitted to the authorities in early April as expected. The report and the data will now be considered and analysed by the Department of Communications Climate Action and Environment including their consulting mining engineers Wardell Armstrong. The conclusions of this analysis are expected in time for the next stakeholder’s forum meeting on April 29^th.

Stakeholder Forum Update

The stakeholder’s forum continues to operate effectively; the last meeting was on April 9^th where the SRK report on the L4900 road was reviewed as well as information sharing & updates on the mining operations in the area. The next meeting is scheduled for April 29^th.

Magheracloone GAA Club and Community Centre

Discussions with both the GAA Club and the Community Centre continue to take place regularly, and Gyproc continues its commitment to exploring solutions for both organisations.

Land & Water Works

We are pleased to confirm the awarding of the contract to commence the next phase of land stripping at Knocknacran quarry to Wills Bros. Ltd. This is the 2^nd stage of the multi-million Euro investment in Knocknacran to ensure continuity of the gypsum supply to our factory at Kingscourt.  The awarding of this contract will mean significant employment during the period of these works. Part of this contract will include the preparation of grounds that may be a suitable future location for a community facility to replace those facilities affected.

We would also like to confirm the appointment of GOLDERS consulting Engineers to oversee the design of the program of works that will involve the demolition of the buildings at the GAA Club / Community centre and the associated groundworks to make the area safe. The intention is to have a contractor on site in the summer. In the meantime, please remember, the area is extremely dangerous, we would ask everyone to respect the security fencing in place, do not enter the area under any circumstances and advise the company promptly of any attempts made to enter the site.

Finally, we are finalising a water management plan which will be submitted to the EPA this week, for their review and approval. This plan will describe how we will minimise our impact on the River Bursk during the drier summer seasons.

Community Liaison Manager activity

Over the last 6 weeks Pat McEnaney has been actively meeting members of the community and local organisations with 35 one to one meetings in this period. Should anyone have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to contact Pat on either community@gyproc.ie or mobile 087 2599238. 

Also remember a text messaging service is in place for anyone who wishes to sign up, and we would encourage you to do so as it allows us to communicate any future relevant updates or information in a timely manner.  To register for the text messaging service please email your full name & mobile number to community@gyproc.ie.  (*Please note that this is an outgoing messaging system only and so, cannot respond or reply to messages received)

Once again, we at Gyproc appreciate your cooperation throughout this process and hope the Stakeholder Forum Group will continue to keep the lines of communication open between all of us in the community.

Dear member of the community,

Firstly, thank you once again for your co-operation throughout this process.  As we continue to make progress, we are fully committed to providing the community with as much information as we can.  In this update, we are sharing with you the latest information on the work being done on the L4900 road as well as other information which we hope you find helpful.

Drumgossatt mine border map

As discussed at the first forum meeting, we have included in this update, a fresh and independently assessed map showing the maximum potential border of the mine taking all old maps into account.  Work is continuing now on the next set of maps which will provide information on the inner mine workings which we look forward to sharing with everyone in the community in approximately 9 weeks.

Technical update on L4900 study

The following is the update from the technical working group which consists of representatives of Monaghan County Council Engineering Department, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) and consultants Wardell Armstrong, the EPA, Gyproc and consulting engineering company SRK.

There are 4 drilling rigs on site and work is progressing as planned.  12 of the 16 previously agreed boreholes have now been drilled in the investigation of the crown hole and an additional eight agreed locations will be drilled over the next number of weeks.  A number of the boreholes have also been identified for laser scanning to investigate the workings underground. It is expected that all exploratory works will be completed in February including all drilling and laser scanning. The resulting data will then be analysed in March with conclusions and proposals agreed for April. The next technical review meeting is scheduled for February 19^th.

Stakeholder Forum Update

As you’ll be aware, the first stakeholder forum meeting has now taken place. The meeting was chaired by Cathaoirleach David Maxwell and in attendance there were representatives from the council, the DCCAE, the EPA, Gyproc and members of the Drumgossatt/Knocknacran Residents Group - who represent 13 residences in the immediate locality. All six local councillors from the Carrickmacross / Castleblaney Municipal District were also present.

The aim of this forum is to facilitate an open discussion on matters of concern for the residents and to share updates on the work in progress. The first meeting was constructive with the group discussing key topics such as the L4900, the maps of the mine, the current one way system in place and general concerns in the community. Updates from the stakeholder’s forum meeting can also be followed on the Facebook page of the “Drumgossatt/Knocknacran Residents Group”.

Magheracloone GAA Club and Community Centre

Discussions with both the GAA Club and the Community Centre continue to take place regularly, and Gyproc continues its commitment to exploring solutions for both organisations.

Appointment of Community Liaison Manager and Future Communications

Pat McEnaney has been appointed as Gyproc’s Community Liaison Manager. Pat’s full time job will be to ensure that concerns in the community are dealt with quickly and as efficiently as possible. Pat can be contacted through community@gyproc.ie or mobile 087 2599238.

Gyproc has also set up a new text messaging service which will allow us to communicate any future relevant updates or information in a timely manner.  To register for the text messaging service please email your full name & mobile number to community@gyproc.ie.  (*Please note that this is an outgoing messaging system only and so, cannot respond or reply to messages received)

Finally

On behalf of Gyproc and in response to a point raised at the first stakeholders forum, a new community defibrillator will be installed at the local Mace Service Station in Magheracloone, with the kind permission and support of Justin O’Rourke.   

If you have any individual questions or concerns and would like to have a face to face meeting with Gyproc, please call Pat McEnaney on 087 2599238 to arrange a suitable day and time.  Once again, we at Gyproc appreciate your cooperation throughout this process and hope the stakeholder forum group will continue to keep the lines of communication open between all of us involved.

Gyproc update regarding water management at Drummond Mine and EPA Priority Sites listing

The EPA has today published its updated priority sites listing which now includes Gyproc.  Gyproc’s presence on the list relates to the ingress of a significant volume of water in June 2018 to the Drummond mine.

Following the subsidence at Magheracloone GAA club in September 2018, the water management plan necessitated the release of naturally occurring ground water with elevated sulphate levels to the river Bursk.  The release of this ground water breached one aspect of Gyproc’s compliance conditions due to the combination of low water flow in the river Bursk and higher than normal volumes of ground water. 

It is important to note that there has been ongoing consultation with the EPA since the event occurred in June and a substantially increased program of monitoring was agreed with the EPA and implemented in September as part of a water management plan.  This program continues to be monitored very closely and Gyproc will continue to engage with the EPA to ensure that there is no negative impact on the local environment.

At all times Gyproc, which has been mining in the area for 80 years, prioritises safety in its management of the water ingress and all other activities. Since the subsidence in September, Gyproc has continued its commitment to the local community and welcomes the establishment of a new forum which includes residents, Monaghan County Council, the EPA and the EMD.