Silvermines residents met the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, on a disused 149-acre toxic mining pond in Co Tipperary yesterday.
The meeting was organised to highlight concerns about toxic dust blowing from the pond, human health concerns and the detection of elevated levels of lead in animals.
Locals and members of the Silvermines Environmental Action Group presented a list of concerns relating to the Tailings Management Facility, a disused mining lagoon, to the Minister.
Furthermore, they called for the regeneration of the Silvermines region.
Residents have called for the revitalisation of the Silvermines region after eight animals tested positive for a toxic substance at a farm near a disused mining dump in Co Tipperary.
This follows another case, at the same farm, where an animal tested positive for elevated levels of lead in its system last month.
Test results from 17 yearling bullocks showed elevated readings of lead in eight animals at a farm located near a 149-acre mining waste lagoon near Silvermines village.
"The 17 bloods were submitted to Limerick Regional Veterinary Laboratory on April 22nd for lead analysis. Eight of the 17 bloods submitted had raised lead concentrations," a spokesman for the Department of Agriculture and Food said.
"The Department of Agriculture and Food has an ongoing commitment to monitor the impact of lead on the health of animals in the Silvermines via laboratory and field investigation of reported cases," the spokesman added.
With the detection of lead in the animals, locals are calling for a rehabilitation plan, published in May 2002 by consultants for the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, to be implemented immediately.
The Steffan, Robertson and Kirsten report, which recommends a €5.2 million, four-year remedial plan to prevent pollution in the Silvermines area, cannot go ahead until legislation is drafted in relation to the matter.
Legislation needs to address organisational structures to assume control and payment of the rehabilitation works before they can be carried out.
Last month the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources served a notice on the mining company Mogul to clean up the Gortmore Tailings Management Facility.