High North News

ESA opens case against Norway over mining dumping

Trine Jonassen
minerals environmental crimes the repparfjord mining

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Surveillance Authority (ESA) has initiated infringement proceedings against Norway over the permits for mining dumping in Førdefjorden and Repparfjorden. The announcement comes four days before the case regarding the permit for mining dumping in Førdefjorden is heard in the Supreme Court on 27 April.

This is apparent from a letter from ESA to the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment on 23 April. The letter is a so-called "formal notice" under the EEA Agreement. This is the first step in ESA's infringement proceedings against EEA/EFTA states – equivalent to what the European Commission calls a "letter of formal notice" in EU law.

"This further strengths our case and shows that we have been right all along. The permits for dumping mining waste in Førdefjorden and Repparfjorden are invalid. It should now be obvious to everyone that the dumping that is currently taking place in the Førdefjord is illegal and must be stopped", says Truls Gulowsen, leader of the Norwegian Nature Conservation Association, in a press release.

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