92001E1226

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1226/01

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(26 April 2001)

Subject: Construction of the Ferrol waste-water treatment plant in a Natura 2000 Network area

In order to comply with EU requirements regarding the treatment of waste water, the Ferrol municipal authorities, together with the Regional Planning Ministry and the Northern Hydrographic Confederation, are intending to build a waste-water treatment plant covering six hectares in an area located within the Natura 2000 Network (Costa Artabra-Ensenada, located between Cape Prioriño Grande and Cape Prioriño Chico, Ferrol district).

Does the Commission consider that locating a waste-water treatment plant within an area included in the Natura 2000 Network is a suitable way of solving a serious environmental problem (the city of Ferrol discharges 60 000 m3 per day of waste water into the estuary on which it stands)? Does it not think that an alternative solution should be found which will not affect the Natura 2000 Network site?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(29 June 2001)

Article 4 of Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment(1) requires agglomerations of more than 15 000 population equivalent (population equivalent is a unit of measurement of organic pollution representing the average pollution produced per person per day) to be equipped with collecting systems and secondary (i.e. biological) treatment systems by no later than 31 December 2000. Ferrol falls into this category.

The fact that the project described by the Honourable Member is indeed located in an area designated a site of Community importance (SCI ES1110002 Costa Artaba) by the Spanish authorities in accordance with Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora(2) does not a priori prevent the project from being carried out, provided it does not have a significant effect on the site.

The question does not provide sufficient information for the Commission to establish whether Directive 92/43/EEC has been infringed.

However, the Commission does not rule out the possibility of investigating the problem raised by the Honourable Member should she be able to provide it with information proving that the project would have a significant effect on the site.

(1) OJ L 135, 30.5.1991.

(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.