Environment Council weakens controls on industrial emissions
(Brussels – 25 June, 2009) – EEB, Europe’s largest federation of environmental citizens’ organisations, regrets the outcome of today’s Environment Council vote on the Directive on Industrial Emissions, during which Council even further weakened the Czech presidency’s compromise “middle ground” proposal for industrial emission controls.
“We are appalled by the minimalist approach taken by certain Member States led by the UK and Poland,” said Christian Schaible, EEB’s Industrial Policy Officer. “Shouldn’t Environment Ministers be more concerned about ensuring better health and environmental conditions for its citizens rather than securing additional profits for operators by prolonging the period during which under-performing plants can continue being heavy polluters?”
The main points of contention debated in Council today were minimal requirements for emission limits for existing large combustion plants (LCPs) and the level of flexibility needed to deviate from the emission levels achievable through the use of Best Available Techniques (BAT).
Part of the Czech Presidency’s proposal, known as a TNP, which would extend the time frame for LCPs to reach their emission limit values (ELVs) by four years did not go far enough for some Member States such as the UK, Poland, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania, who made sure the deadline was ultimately extended to 2021.
Friends of the Earth (England Wales and Northern Ireland) and EEB provided a detailed and damning critique of the study carried out by the UK to support the Czech Plan. It was demonstrated that the plant-by-plant ELV approach proposed by the Commission will achieve significantly higher emission reductions than any TNP option. In March 2009 the European Parliament clearly rejected these sorts of amendments seeking to provide for additional flexibility for LCPs.
For the complete press release visit: www.eeb.org
1Dr S Prokop,BSc,MBBS,MRCPswych on Jul 13, 2009 at 7:29 am:
EURO ….F..Law……a TRANSPARENCY-LITE POLLUTER’S CHARTER
In the guise of cutting red tape and curbing administrative costs the Environment Committee of the EU Parliament has just last month passed amendments to European Directive [COM(2007) 843 final]that seriously affect our ability to monitor and inspect
Chimney emissions
Groundwater pollution
Soil pollution
Heavy metal emissions
The industry lobby wants to limit access to the legal complaint procedure by non governmental organisations promoting environmental protection, leaving an individual to face them alone!
The industry has gained permission for inspections every two years instead of every year.
Industry wanted derogations from limit values..it has got them!
Soil monitoring every 10 years, groundwater, every 5….!Heavy metals once a year
You won’t be informed until four months after a breach has occurred etc.etc.
I was really shocked to read the zero option amendments and see the pages of crossed out rules from the 2007 directive.It was clear that industry had prepared a morning ambush of the committee,and used procedural technicalities to curb opposition.It betrayed a clear wish to remove any checks related to public health and safety in the competitive drive down to the standards of China and America..two countries whose environmental standards in this area are truly appalling.This area looks technical,but is really an important battleground for our children’s well-being.