In the Rivne region the "Volyn-cement" cement plant in Zdolbunov, which is located near residential areas, received permission to burn alternative fuels.
The enterprise received a positive conclusion from the environmental impact assessment (EIA), despite a number of inaccuracies and potential environmental pollution and a negative impact on human health, reports Ecoclub.
"The positive conclusion from the EIA of the Volyn-cement plant shows that during the war in Ukraine, the norms and rules of the law are violated," eco-activists emphasized.
It is noted that the plant planned to use industrial and chemical waste from its activities as an alternative fuel. Ministry protection of the environment and natural resources allowed such activity, if the company additionally assesses its impact during another stage of design.
The authors emphasized that the Ministry of Environment evaluated the report of "Volyn-Cement" on the use of only that alternative fuel, which was investigated by the Institute of Public Health named after OHM. Marzeeva National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. So if the plant plans to use other types of waste, they need to be further analyzed.
"In order to use the waste specified in the report, "Volyn-Cement" must carefully analyze its impact on the environmental protection area of European importance – the Emerald Network. Subsequently, it is necessary to provide the Ministry of Environment with information that will contain measures to reduce the possible negative impact," they said.
Eco-activists added that until the plant meets all the requirements of the Ministry of Environment, it will not be able to use the waste specified in the report from the Ministry of Environment. Now "Volyn-Cement" can work within the limits of its previous activity. However, the plant's air emissions permit is valid until July 11, 2023.
"Obtaining such a permit was provided for by this report from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which by its name contains another type of research: "waste management". Therefore, we do not know whether the company is operating legally," said Yuliya Kvitka, coordinator of the Department of Internal Affairs and Communications of the Ecoclub.
It is noted that the Zdolbuniv city council published a notice on the admissibility of the plant's operation on its website. Citizens did not have the opportunity to be fully involved in the case, because they were deprived of access to information in the field of environmental protection.
As EcoPolitic reported earlier, in the Rivne region, the "Volyn-cement" cement plant in Zdolbunov announced plans to burn industrial and chemical waste from its operations. In May, eco-activists sent comments and suggestions to the company's environmental impact assessment (EIA) report.
