Environment Agency has considered complaints came after the January gave permission to seafill in Repparfjorden and they have not changed his mind. Now the complaints forwarded to the Climate and Environment Ministry (KLD) which will consider the appeal.
– Now it’s totally out of our hands until the appeal is decided, says section Harald Sørby Environment Directorate industrial and havavdeling.
The Ministry shall process the complaint formally, but Environment Directorate has a rich note commented the complaints that have been received. A total of five complaints against the decision on discharge permits to Nussir. Two of them, from Kvalsund SV and Hammerfest SV, is rejected, then Environment Directorate believes political parties not entitled to appeal in this case.
Thus, it remains three complaints dealt with: the Earth and Nature and Youth (common), Sami Parliament and Norwegian Salmon Rivers.
Reindeer industry complained not
reindeer pasturing districts, which in February requested postponed the deadline for appeals, have not submitted appeal the decision.
– Is not it strange that they have not handed complaint?
– I will not speculate on why there came complaint from the affected reindeer industry, but notes that there have been complaints from the Sami Parliament and that they have included the drawbacks of Saami livelihoods, as the covers reindeer Sørby said.
What the ministry now will do, whether they will collect more information or not, is not clear. The same is true turnaround. High North News has asked the Climate and Environment Ministry turnaround, but so far not received a reply.
Extensive complaints
The complaints that came in was extensive, and in particular complaint from Friends of the Earth and Nature and Youth discussed the many challenges associated with the use fjord as landfill for tailings from mining:
the total impact on life in the fjord and a lack of understanding of ecosystems
Repparfjorden role as national salmon
flow ratio and particle dispersion
consequences of pollutants and heavy metals
Effect of nanoparticles
Violation of diversity Act, the water Regulations, the Convention on biological diversity, the London Convention and the Constitution §112
Conflict with reindeer and Sami interests
Missing requirement backfilling and alternative uses of mass
Norwegian salmon rivers protested too. They believe that the permit for sea disposal is given on a basis which has omitted important information about the salmon’s early grazing in the estuary and fjord area. They believe the permit is therefore granted in violation of the protection regime for national salmon fjords and salmon rivers.
The Sami Parliament for its part claims that the permit will result in contamination disadvantages for Sami industries, and that the disadvantages are too large compared with the benefits the measure otherwise entails. They believe the measure will give direct disadvantages for Sami culture and society.
– Should put treatment on hold
Conservation Association leader Lars Haltbrekken is not surprised that the Environment Agency has not taken complaints to follow.
– Is the appeal to?
– What we had expected was perhaps that they at least read and commented on the report from Vista Analysis that the Parliament put forward last week.
– It may have something with the time to do it prospered a little late?
– If so, should they put the proceedings on hold, for the report of Vista Analysis undercut the arguments of the Environment Agency about the economic importance of this project, turn Haltbrekken firm and notes that the Environment Agency has weighed the environmental drawbacks towards the socio-economic benefits. But the note that has been submitted KLD treatment is not the socio-economic significance discussed.
Lars Haltbrekken and Naturvernforbundet now fear that climate and environment minister give its final blessing to seafill in Repparfjorden on the basis of the note from the Environment Directorate.
– It is unfortunately our experience in other matters, but I hope that they read the report from Vista analysis. They have the opportunity now to rectify the impression of a dump friendly government, he said.
If that were to happen the fight is still not over for conservationists. The Association has already appealed the decision of ESA, which will consider it after water regulation.
– And recently sent Nussir application for an operating license. It is still possible to stop the project, so we’re working with, exit Haltbrekken.
Here is some of the Environment Directorate has commented on the individual complaints:
In its assessment of each complain defends Environment Agency’s decision to allow tailings in Repparfjorden.
The point is about the overall consequences for life in the fjord and ecosystem understanding has got the greatest place in the document, and the Directorate writes that considering they have enough knowledge about the total impact biodiversity in Repparfjorden will to be exposed to. There is a little uncertainty about the consequences for the ecosystem as a result of the deposit, but little likelihood that it will give substantial damage to the ecosystem of the bay, they believe.
The agrees with complaints that spending area in fjord is a major cause of loss of benthic fauna in the landfill area, and that the most important negative effect of seafill is that 10 -15 percent of the area of the bay is seized by tailings. The downside is that the benthic fauna disappear here, but studies show that the area that is outside the landfill area will not be significantly affected by the tailings.
Naturvernforbundet fear that the landfill will affect fjord fish stocks, but Environment Agency considers that the knowledge that exists on this is good enough to give permission. This is also about coastal Sami use of the fjord, Environment Directorate writes: “When it comes to coastal Sami use of the bay, so it is our assessment that it is unlikely that the landfill in Repparfjorden will have serious negative consequences for the ability of future sea fishing. The pollution effects of mining will therefore in our opinion does not involve a restriction of coastal Sami use of the bay. “
They consider it unlikely that anadromous fish such as salmon, char and trout forfeits the deposit, showing that the industrial base outside the regulated landfill site will not be significantly weakened. There are also studies showing that the char and trout are staying in the top two meters of the water column, where they will not be affected by the landfill. In this section of the water column, the concentration of fines and copper being very low.
Several times a complaint assessment appears that surveys show that Repparfjorden will not be influenced by particles from mining departure outside the area that is zoned for landfill. Reference is also made to the stringent requirements set in the permit, where among other things should be closely monitored so that no particle dispersion becomes greater than it is given permission. If the limits are exceeded production must stop.
Much of the uncertainty around seafill in Repparfjorden been about current conditions and particle dispersion, and how particles from off mass will affect life in the fjord.
Environment Directorate writes that there will always be some uncertainty particle spread beyond the landfill site, and that is why it has been so stringent maximum allowable particle spreading around the landfill area and upward in the water column.
The limit for what is allowed in the top 30 meters is added to the particle concentration should not exceed 2 mg / l in addition to the natural concentration in water.
When it comes to conflict with reindeer and Sami interests notes Sami Parliament in its complaint that permission can not be given because it is not agreed with the reindeer industry regarding mining plans, and that it therefore can not be granted without the reindeer industry is in on it. Environment Directorate responds here that this is something that concerns zoning.
When it comes to emission permit claims Sami Parliament that “it would result in pollution disadvantages for Sami industries (both reindeer and the Coastal Sami interests).”
Environment Directorate in its decision on the assumption that there are reindeer are most likely could have negative impacts from the project, but that it is principally about land use adopted in the current zoning for the area.
“With regard to fish interests, so it is our assessment that it is unlikely that the landfill in Repparfjorden will have serious negative consequences for the ability of future sea fishing. The pollution effects of mining will therefore in our opinion does not involve a restriction of Sami cultural practices. “
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