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Document 92004E000030
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0030/04 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Landfill and gravel extraction sites.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0030/04 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Landfill and gravel extraction sites.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0030/04 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Landfill and gravel extraction sites.
Dz.U. C 84E z 3.4.2004, p. 752–752
(ES, DA, DE, EL, EN, FR, IT, NL, PT, FI, SV)
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3.4.2004 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
CE 84/752 |
(2004/C 84 E/0847)
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0030/04
by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission
(20 January 2004)
Subject: Landfill and gravel extraction sites
Can the Commission state whether any EU legislation exists that stipulates the distance of landfill and gravel extraction sites from houses, roads and water courses?
Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission
(23 February 2004)
As regards landfills, Annex I.1 of Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste (1) states that the location of a landfill must take into consideration requirements relating to:
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(a) |
the distances from the boundary of the site to residential and recreational areas, waterways, water bodies and other agricultural or urban sites; |
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(b) |
the existence of groundwater, coastal water or nature protection zones in the area; |
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(c) |
the geological and hydrogeological conditions in the area; |
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(d) |
the risk of flooding, subsidence, landslides or avalanches on the site; |
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(e) |
the protection of the nature or cultural patrimony in the area. |
The landfill can be authorised only if the characteristics of the site with respect to the above-mentioned requirements, or the corrective measures to be taken, indicate that the landfill does not pose a serious environmental risk. However, the Directive does not stipulate any specific distances from houses, roads or water courses.
As regards gravel extraction, such an activity is governed by Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 25 June 1985, on the assessment of the effects of certain projects on the environment (2) as amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 (3). Location is one of the criteria to be taken into account in assessing the potential significant effects of extractive activities. Similarly, the Directive does not stipulate any specific distances but relevant requirements may be found in national provisions implementing the Directive.