91997E3790

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3790/97 by Ian White (PSE) to the Commission (26 November 1997)

Subject: Rubbish treatment plant at Casares

Has the Commission considered the scale, siting and methods of rubbish treatment for the proposed plant at Casares (Malaga), Andalucia, Spain, in the light of the alternative Environment Impact Assessment supplied to it by concerned residents, which forecasts the serious pollution of water courses from leachates of the proposed dump?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (16 December 1997)

A petition regarding a proposed waste management plant in Casares, Spain was formally transmitted to the Parliament and forwarded to the Commission under reference No 1026/96 in 1996.

By letter of 30 July 1997 the Commission requested further information from the Spanish authorities concerning the above petition. The Commission requested information regarding the measures foreseen to ensure that waste going to the waste treatment plant and dump at Casares will be disposed of without danger to human health and the environment, taking into account applicable Community legislation, such as Directive 75/442/EEC on waste ((OJ L 194, 15.7.1975. )) as amended by Directive 91/156/EEC ((OJ L 78, 26.3.1991. )) and Directive 89/369/EEC on the prevention of air pollution from new municipal waste incineration plants ((OJ L 163, 14.6.1989. )). The Commission has not yet received a reply from the Spanish authorities.

As mentioned by the Honourable Member, the Commission received documents from local residents. The Commission will consider these documents together with the answer from the Spanish authorities when this answer is available.