The EPA has ramped up enforcement action against the commercial peat extraction industry over the past two years, inspecting two dozen sites operating without an EPA licence and outside of the regulatory system. Many of the sites it has inspected after receiving complaints from the public fall below the 50-hectare threshold for which an EPA licence is required. They do come within the reach of local authorities, however. Under Ireland’s dual-authorisation system for peat extraction, unique across Europe, companies need planning permission for any extraction above 30 hectares. Any activities below this threshold also need to go through the planning…

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