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LAST UPDATE
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\n 1 hr ago\n <\/p>\n
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Agency (EPA) has launched an investigation into noise complaints over a new data centre in Dublin.<\/p>\n
The noise complaints have been submitted by residents who live close to a data centre in the Clondalkin Industrial Estate, which is operated by Echelon Data Centres.<\/p>\n
Echelon is a data centre owner, developer and operator which has four data centres in Ireland.<\/p>\n
In posts on the Clondalkin News Facebook group, the noise being emitted from the vicinity of the Clondalkin data centre has been described as \u201cvery annoying\u201d.<\/p>\n
A post on the same Facebook group said that the noise being produced is \u201cat a disturbing level\u201d, and comments under this post labelled it a \u201chorrible noise\u201d.<\/p>\n
Another said they thought it was a \u201chelicopter hovering for hours at night\u201d and several said they have been \u201cdriven crazy\u201d by the \u201cconstant buzzing\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hear this every single night, it\u2019s ridiculous,\u201d read another comment.<\/p>\n
In a statement to The Journal, the EPA said it first received a noise complaint related to the Clondalkin site on 15 July, and that a further 11 noise complaints have been submitted since.<\/p>\n
The EPA said it has \u201cengaged directly with the complainants where possible\u201d, as well as Echelon.<\/p>\n
Eoin \u00d3 Broin, a Social Democrats councillor for Clondalkin, is among these complainants.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He told The Journal that it is \u201cincumbent on the EPA as the independent authority overseeing the data centre site to ensure that the disturbing noises are ameliorated so as to eliminate the nuisance they are causing residents who are living nearby\u201d.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the EPA spokesperson said it has followed up on these complaints and has instructed Echelon to also \u201cinvestigate and provide responses to the nature of the noise source and the mitigation measures to be taken\u201d.<\/p>\n
An EPA investigation is ongoing and a spokesperson said Echelon \u201cis engaged in the process\u201d.<\/p>\n
The EPA said Echelon has \u201cengaged acoustic consultants to investigate noise emissions and has installed 24\/7 noise monitoring sensors along the site boundary in order to investigate and characterise the noise profile\u201d.<\/p>\n
The EPA added that it is \u201creviewing and assessing\u201d Echelon\u2019s submissions as part of an ongoing compliance investigation.<\/p>\n
The EPA has also engaged independent consultants to undertake noise monitoring at \u201cnoise-sensitive locations\u201d.<\/p>\n