Eco-activists prepared comments and proposals for the environmental impact assessment report (EIA) for the Volyn-Cement plant in Zdolbunov, Rivne region.
The company plans to expand the list of alternative types of fuel that it will use during production, but this may have a negative impact on the environment and people's health, reports the public organization Ekoklub.
It is noted that the burning of such fuel can lead to increased emissions of pollutants into the air. However, in the report, the developers did not specify specific measures to reduce the possible impact on human health and the environment.
According to ecoactivists, a number of measures are needed to reduce the possible negative impact. The company must also ensure that any alternative fuel is safe and meets European and national environmental standards.
In the message, it was emphasized that the report from the EIA does not contain an assessment of the possible impact on the Emerald network of Zdolbuniv ponds, which are located near the plant.
Eco-activists' comments to the report on the EIA concern:
- lack of additional analysis on the carcinogenic effect of combustion products;
- contradictory information about the impact of the plant on the climate, in particular, and on the scale of greenhouse gas emissions;
- the presence of inaccurate information regarding the types and amount of waste that will be generated as a result of the activity;
- lack of information on alternative fuel certification;
- lack of information about the planned volumes of burning of alternative fuels.
"Volyn-cement plans to burn waste of various origins, sludge and even petroleum coke. These types of fuel do not meet the definition of alternative (according to the Law of Ukraine "On alternative types of fuel")," the authors emphasized.
Eco-activists called on entrepreneurs to review alternative types of fuel for compliance with environmental standards and certification, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources to refuse to issue an opinion from the EIA.
As EcoPolitic previously reported, in the Rivne region, the Volyn-cement cement plant in Zdolbunov plans to start burning industrial and chemical waste from its activities.