TWO environmental groups have launched legal proceedings against the government over what they claim is a "damaging" gas storage project planned for the Co Antrim coast.
The Islandmagee project would see the development of seven large caverns below Larne Lough.
The area is where various scenes from the hit series Game of Thrones were filmed.
No Gas Caverns and Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland have jointly taken legal action against the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) over the proposal.
Papers have been filed to the High Court in Belfast requesting a judicial review.
The groups warn the project threatens wildlife, including otters, dolphins and porpoise, and undermines action on climate change.
They are challenging Daera over a number of issues, including the failure to properly assess the need for the scheme, inadequate environmental information, the application of less stringent EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) regulations and the decommissioning plan.
Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland director James Orr described the plans as "ill-conceived".
“If this scheme goes ahead, highly polluting hypersaline brine will be pumped into the sea, 450 metres off the coast, creating a ‘dead zone’ in an area teeming with wildlife, including seals, sea otters, dolphins and porpoises," he said.
“It's little wonder local people are angry. This beautiful area is a major tourist attraction and an area of international importance for wildlife."
Lisa Dobbie, of No Gas Caverns, welcomed the support of Friends of the Earth in the legal challenge.
Their main concerns about the project are the impact on wildlife and scenery.
“This discharge could severely harm our porpoise, puffin and other priority species and no decommissioning plan for the caverns has been assessed or conditioned in the marine licence," she claimed.
In October, the company behind the plan claimed the project can help protect businesses and consumers against volatility in the energy market.
Infrastrata, which has been granted a marine construction licence for the project, said the storage units will be capable of holding around 500 million cubic metres of natural gas, equivalent to around 25 per cent of the UK’s storage capacity.
They said the project will support 400 jobs during the construction phase, with up to 1,200 indirect jobs potentially created.
However, a umbrella group including the north’s main conservation organisations have already come out against the plans.
The Northern Ireland Marine Task Force includes the RSPB NI, National Trust, WWF, Ulster Wildlife and Friends of the Earth.
When asked for a comment Daera said:
“The matter is the subject of litigation and the department is not in a position to comment further.”
