North Antrim as Lignite Land

1. North Antrim as Lignite Land

2. location and size of proposed lignite development area

3. Mining Soil pile Power station

4. a section through theland showing the minein relation to river systems

5. Average land thickness Ballymoney river feeders the lignite mine Bush river Average lignite thickness

6. Effect on ground water • A large part of the upper Ballymoney river system will be removed. This will interfere with the Bann into which it flows. • Two streams feeding into the Bush will be covered by the heap of removed soil. • It is likely that due to the depth of the mine the water table will be lowered causing drying up of meadows, springs, wells and streams in summer. • This will destroy habitats of Curlew, Lapwing, Snipe, Moorhen and Buzzard.

7. Is it worth taking a riskon damaging the ecosystems of the rivers Bush and Lower Bannto the extent of making eels and salmon extinct?What would tourists think of that?

8. the scale of the damage to the landscape is frighteninga case of wonderland to blunderland!

10. Loss of Hedges, Ditches and Trees • Shelter, food and nesting places for many birds will be lost. • Insect life will be decimated. • Habitats for Foxes, Badgers, Rabbits, Hares and Stoats will be lost. • Greater exposure to wind and rain will increase erosion. • The damage to the Food Web will reduce the variety of wildlife in the area.

11. to some landscape loversfarm machines such as tractors and combine harvesters destroythe peace and quiet of the countryside – but what aboutmonsters like this?

13. Loss of Archaeological Sites and Artefacts? • It is likely that the area contains a timeline of human habitation going back to the Middle Stone Age. • Raths and Souterrains dating back to Early Christian Times should never be tampered with.(Folklore) • Finds yet to be discovered will end up in the pile of scraped away soil.

14. Homes, Roads, Lanes, Tracks and Hedges • Many of these will end up on the spoil heap. • A slice of human history will vanish with them. • The soft sounds of the countryside will be replaced by the clamour of industry.

15. Is there any reason good enough to destroy alandscape heritage like this?

16. and this?

17. look at how the landscape wouldchange

22. Climate and Weather • Calm damp weather makes the pollution worse. It localises it. Sulphur dioxide dissolves in rain to produce acid. • Temperature inversion traps the pollution close to the ground. • Winds will carry the pollutants far and wide.

23. Think about our climate –especially the weather we getin November to March –many days of low grey clouds and damp cold still air –perfect for soaking us in pollution.Now think of those days whenthe wind would lift you off your feet –perfect for polluting our neighbours.

24. With all of that in mindshould we even be thinking aboutdoing something as filthy asproducing energy fromlignite?Here’s what you get with the energy from lignite.

25. By Products and Effects • Sulphur dioxide – makes rain, soil and streams more acid. Damages leaves and breathing systems of animals. Could reduce Blackspot in roses and Blight in potatoes • Carbon dioxide – greenhouse effect. Could increase crop yields with increased sunlight up to a certain level. • Other greenhouse gases – Methane and Nitrous Oxide. • Carbon monoxide – prevents red blood cells handling oxygencausing respiraton failure.

26. Continued - • alkanes, alkenes, aldehydes, alcohols, benzene, toluene, xylene and ethyl benzyne. • dioxins and furans. • polycyclic organic matter and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. • trace metals – mercury, lead, arsenic; • other gases – chlorine and fluorine as HCl and HF. • particulates – small pieces of dirt. Possibly silica oxide and mica. • All of these cause serious health problems – poisoning, cancer, bronchitis.

27. Here’s a really worrying thought!Lignite contains about 30% silica oxide so what % does the ash of lignite contain?Extracting energy from lignite produces a lot of ash!Silica in the air causes serious respiratory problems.

28. The Big Hole in the ground • After the Lignite is mined the hole will be filled with the by products of the furnace and covered with the soil from the spoil heap. • Could someone be thinking of using it as a potential landfill site? • Either of these will put the quality of the ground water at great risk. • Could Ballymoney – the homestead of the bog become - Ballypolmore – the homestead of the big hole?

29. The hole left by the removal of lignite could become thelandfill site of all landfill sites.It could solve our waste problemsfor years to come!

30. The Landscape Replaced • When the soil is replaced the area will be landscaped and replanted. • How will it compare with what was there before? • It will be difficult to compete with something that took 10 000 years to evolve.

32. Who • Who will dismantle the pylons after the project finishes? • Who will dismantle the buildings after the project finishes? • Who will assume responsibility for site restoration if the company becomes insolvent? • Who will bear the consequences of a badly damaged environment?

33. Health • Medical experts tell us that human health will deteriorate. • Veterinary experts tell us that animal health will deteriorate. • Botanical experts tell us that plant health will deteriorate. • Because of our interdependence we all have a lot to lose.

34. Happiness • The sights and sounds of the North Antrim countryside as it is creates a feeling of wellbeing. • It is unlikely that the replacement will do the same. • Psychosomatic illnesses – the ‘ones in your head’ will increase.

35. What do you mean we’ll have to move?

36. Well if this lignite thing goes ahead the place’ll never be the same again