Last week, the Norwegian overnment has given permission for the controversial mining project in Førdefjorden. Fjord can thus be used as a waste dumping area for the mining industry. Norway’s oldest environmental and nature protection organisation, Naturvernforbund (Friends of the Earth Norway) reacts strongly to the granting of permission to dump hazardous waste in a vulnerable natural area.
A number of environmental organizations and politicians describe the decision as one of the biggest pollution scandals in recent Norwegian history. Førdefjorden is a reindeer and fish fjord that will be negatively affected by mining waste.
– This will kill all life on the seabed in the landfill area and mass will be spread and affect large parts of the fjord. Our leading oceanographers have long warned in the strongest terms against the plans. Several endangered species will be greatly affected by the spill, says Lars Haltbrekken- leader in Naturvernforbundet.
The British newspaper The Telegraph has written that Norway will lose its status as a country that protects its nature, and the Guardian newspaper wrote that the Norwegian plan is like returning to the 18th century.
Complaint to EEA Watchdog Body
Naturvernforbundet now takes the issue to EEA watchdog body, ESA for stopping the government.Â
Haltbrekken says to Aftenposten they will send their complaint to ESA during the coming weeks. They complain with another environmental organization Nature and Youth. It may take several years for ESA to treat such a complaint.
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