300 tonnes of mine waste released in tailings pond pipeline breach

A BREACH and spill from a Tara Mines tailings pond pipeline last November resulted in an estimated 250 to 300 tonnes of tailings solids being released into the surrounding ground, according to a report by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The incident, which saw over 397,000 litres of mine waste or the equivalent of 25 tankers released within the mine site - following a pipeline failure on 12th November 2025, has horrified local campaigners who have vowed to fight to prevent an extension of the mine's tailings pond, which currently covers an area of 700 to 800 acres in the townlands of Randalstown and Simonstown.

According to the EPA, mine waste was observed coating the drainage ditches on either side of an access road at Knockumber following the spill and there had been concerns that the waste could reach the Blackwater river. The mine waste is known as tailings.

Boliden Tara Mines has already bought a further 500 acres across the from the existing waste facility in Kilberry and Sillogue and is expected to apply for planning permission for an extension to the facility by the end of the year, if current exploration proves the viability of the Tara Deep ore body.

Members of a local group Saving the Environment of Navan Townlands (SENT) have expressed anger that this incident was not discussed or even mentioned at their community liaison meetings with Boliden Tara Mines, “effectively keeping the local community in the dark.”

Ann Brady said the groups met with the company every quarter. “They did not mention that incident at the next meeting and when we heard about it and raised it with them, they said they hadn't mentioned it as it was within the mine complex.

“As concerned residents, we feel that despite it being within the mine area, it was still a leak of tailings. They did apologise and said they would ensure going forward that they would inform us.”

Acting secretary, Mairead Heaney, said that the November incident was just one of a number of non conformances with regulations by the company.

“Some of those occurred when the mine was in care and maintenance. This doesn't give us much confidence in how the facility will be maintained once the mine is closed.”

“Boliden Tara Mines are being treated differently than the average business owner or farmer who, we believe would have been prosecuted had such a level of breaches occurred on their land or business premises.”

Chairman, Larry Henry, said that they have been aware that “for the last 50 years all that stuff has been dumped out into a site in our parish. Between 700 and 800 acres of farmland gone forever and another 500 acres purchased.

“We have the best land in the country for tillage. It is second to none in Europe and we are just allowing it to be eroded.

“This is an area beside where people are living. The people of Navan have no idea how big it is.

“Do they know they are living behind what is called a tailings pond, but my view is that it really is a toxic dump.

“We have no problem with the mines. We have no problem with the land. We have friends, neighbours, working in the mines. It’s about what are we leaving for our kids and grandkids? What are their grandkids going to do when this land is gone and it's gone forever”.

SENT are concerned that Boliden Tara Mines will only be responsible for the tailings pond for 15 years after the life of the mine and after that it is handed over to the government.

Martin Heaney said that while there is a bond in place - with the county council - his belief is that it is nowhere near what needed if there was to be an issue.

“Boliden's tailings dam cost well over €250 million to clean up when it burst in Spain and more money again to restore the landscape.

The bond lodged with Meath County Council is €20 million and €12 million for contingencies.”

On 25th April 1998, a holding dam burst at the Los Frailes mine, near Aznalcóllar, Seville, releasing four to five million cubic metres of mine tailings. The acidic tailings, which contained dangerous levels of several heavy metals, quickly reached the nearby River Agrio, and then its parent river, the River Guadiamar, travelling about 40 kilometres (25 miles) along these waterways and covering an area of 4,600 hectares.

Mairead Heaney says the Tara tailings facility is very near the Blackwater and is higher than it. “If there was a failure it could go straight down into the Blackwater and on to the Boyne”

Martin Heaney, who is environmental chairman of Meath IFA, has concerns that the EPA's focus when it comes to water quality is regarding nitrogen and phosphorous from farming.

“I'm not sure they have the expertise to look at metals, chemicals and whatever else is being discharged from the mine.”

Ann Brady says that when any of the development is going on at the tailings facility, they have to deal with the lorries, noise and dust.

Benny Sheridan says the belief that Tara Mines is a major boon to the economy of Navan can be disputed.

“There is an economic benefit to farmland and there are currently 700/800 acres out of production - and will be for years if not forever. Who will maintain the tailings pond long term after mining has stopped?

The residents say they are determined to fight any attempt to extend the tailings pond in their area.

Mairead Heaney points out that it has been extended six times. “The last time they extended it we expected it would be the last,” she recalls.

“If Tara Deep proves to be a viable option, they have told us that before the end of this year they will be applying for a further tailings facility.

“We are not happy and we will be fighting this. We do not want another extension. We don’t want anymore mine waste dumped in our area.”

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