‘One party gets the benefits, and a local community bears the risks’ Public meeting hears concerns over tailings pond

A GEOPHYSICIST who specialises in groundwater and mining consulting has claimed that there are reasons for concerns regarding the Tara Mines Tailings Pond at Randalstown.

Dr Steven H Emerman was one of the speakers at a public meeting hosted by The Save the Environment of Navan Townlands (SENT) in Gibbstown earlier this month.

The meeting, held in Halla Bhaile Ghib, was convened to allow those in a close vicinity to the tailings pond to learn more about how tailings facilities work, what they are designed for, potential hazards, and how they can affect the local community.

Residents heard how Boliden Tara Mines plans to extend tunneling to facilitate exploration of the Tara Deep ore deposit, which has led to questions and concerns from local residents.

Having recently been granted planning permission by Meath County Council, Tara Mines plans to extend their underground exploration tunnel by three kilometres, at a depth of approximately 1 kilometre. Although the mining company has said they have adequate capacity for the current mine, they claim if Tara Deep materialises, it will require a new tailings pond to facilitate the waste.

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.

The current tailings facility covers an area of 700 to 800 acres in the townlands of Randalstown and Simonstown.

The meeting was held just months after it emerged that a breach and spill from a Tara Mines tailings pond pipeline last November resulted in an estimated 250 to 300 tonnes of mine waste being released into the surrounding ground.

According to a report by the Environmental Protection Agency, the incident 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. The waste was being piped to the tailings pond when the spill occurred. An alarm activated and an Emergency Response procedure was initiated. An immediate plant shutdown commenced and the EPA were notified.

Speaking on the Tara Mines project, Dr Emerman who holds a MA in Geophysics from Princeton University, a PHD in Geophysics from Cornell University and has over 35 years experience in teaching hydrology and geophysics, delivered an analysis of dam safety review conducted by environmental consultancy firm SLR in 2022. He claimed that, in accordance with the analysis, there were significant potential problems that were possible at the tailings pond in Navan.

He said issues such as overtopping and liquefaction [tailings becoming fluid-like causing lack of stability] could potentially occur. They included potential contamination of the River Boyne/Blackwater system, and he argued it was best international practice to require emergency planning, as well as evacuation processes for residents living in local areas that could be impacted.

“Do the benefits outweigh the risks? There’s really no way to answer that question,” said Dr Emerman at the meeting.

“The question would make sense, if, somehow, we were all in this together.

“There are some benefits, there are some risks. It doesn’t happen anywhere, where one group of people is going to share the benefits and are all going to bear the risks. It’s always one party that gets the benefits, and a local community that bears the risks.”

Also present were SENT representatives, who were eager to inform the local community of the changes caused by, and potential impacts of, the tailings facility. They also were clear in saying that if anyone was interested in volunteering their time, in any capacity, that they would be grateful for the help.

One question raised at the meeting was what action could be taken in terms of an emergency, and who they should report problems to.

Dr Emerman said: “If the community doesn't have an emergency plan, or they don't know about it, then the community doesn't have a plan. You'd expect to know where people are supposed to go, what they're supposed to do. There should be drills and rehearsals for that.” They were also told that problems are to be reported to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Meath Chronicle understands an external emergency plan is in place for the Tara tailings facility and that it is prepared by the local competent authorities in compliance with the European Communities Waste Management (Management of Waste from the Extractive Industries) Regulations 2009.

Boliden to hold information evenings for local community ‘to learn more about our operations’

Boliden to hold information evenings for local community ‘to learn more about our operations’

Boliden Tara Mines is to host two ‘Community Information Evenings’ in October at Halla Bhaile Ghib (Gibbstown Community Centre) to help address concerns of local residents living in close proximity to the tailings pond.

In response to the Meath Chronicle story on the recent public meeting held in Gibbstown a statement from the mining company said the sessions an “opportunity for attendees to learn more about our operations, ask questions, share views, and discuss any concerns they may have.”

A spokesperson said: “Boliden Tara Mines has been part of the community for almost 50 years, and our ambition is to remain a part of the community for decades to come, continuing to bring strong employment and economic benefits to the area.

“Over this period, we have been fortunate to have strong support from the communities in which we operate, and we don’t take this support for granted. We aim to operate to the highest standard possible, including in how we manage our tailings facility.

“As part of this, it is important that people are aware how the facility is managed, inspected, and regulated.

“Tara Mines is part of the Boliden Group, a Swedish multinational metals company, which operates mines in a number of countries and is fully committed to meeting the very best standards for the management of tailings facilities. Boliden has committed to applying the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) across its operations including Tara Mines, aiming for the goal of zero harm from its mining waste and dam facilities. This is an international standard for the safe management of mine tailings facilities, covering their full lifecycle, from design and construction through operation, monitoring, closure and post-closure.

“Tara’s management of our tailings facility is also regulated by Irish legislation and overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Meath County Council.

“The facility is monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Tara Mines operates a comprehensive Dam Safety Management System that includes continuous monitoring, regular inspections, independent technical reviews, emergency preparedness and regulatory oversight.

“We do not and would not compromise when it comes to the safety of our community, our employees and our neighbours. This is central to our ambition to be part of this community for decades to come.

“As part of our commitment to community engagement, we invite the community to join us at our Community Information Evenings on 13th and 15th October at Halla Bhaile Ghib (Gibbstown Community Centre), from 6-8pm on both evenings.

“These sessions are an opportunity for attendees to learn more about our operations, ask questions, share views, and discuss any concerns they may have. Our team will be there to listen, provide information, and answer the community’s questions.”