Basque Government and local entities will meet on November 30 to address contamination in Legutio

Euskaraz irakurri: Eusko Jaurlaritza eta tokiko erakundeak azaroaren 30ean bilduko dira Legutioko kutsadurari aurre egiteko

The Minister of Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment, Arantxa Tapiahas reported that on November 30 the Basque Government will meet again with the Legutio City Council, the Administrative Boards and the Álava Development Agency, to address the Proposed changes to the Integrated Environmental Authorization to companies classified as potentially polluting located in the Goiain industrial estate, measures that seek to “eliminate the inconvenience” suffered by the residents of Legutio.

Tapia has appeared before the Committee on Sustainability, Environment and Natural Environment of the Basque Parliament, at the request of the PP+Cs parliamentarian Muriel Larrea to report on the pollution problems that the residents of Legutio (Álava) are suffering, especially those who reside in Urrunaga, due to the activity of companies classified as potentially pollutinglocated in the industrial estate of Goiain.

In the Goiain industrial estate, located in Legutio, different activities are carried out, not only by companies classified as potentially polluting, and it has ensured that the regulations that regulate and measure pollution from the point of view of prevention and comprehensive control “it is fully fulfilled” and “all activities are regulated.”

As reported, there are four companies classified as potentially polluting in Goiain: Reydesa Recycling, dedicated to the fragmentation and segregation of metal waste; Deydesa 2000, dedicated to crushing and segregating metal and plastic waste; Refinería de aluminio SL or Refial, of aluminum casting; and Residues of Aluminum or Resal, which treats aluminum slag.

Tapia explained that the Basque Government’s Vice-Ministry for the Environment is the competent body for the control of emissions and discharges, and also for the waste deposit. In this sense, he has stated that these facilities have been inspected according to the approved program, and has reported that these inspections have in some cases resulted in requirements for rectification of some failures, elements that were not in accordance with the regulations, and likewise, it has given rise to three disciplinary proceedings.

Closure of facilities

The counselor has reported that on August 17, 2022, the Integrated Environmental Authorizations granted to Reydesa and Deydesa have been reviewed and modified, and certain technical conditions have been set at the facilities to minimize or eliminate atmospheric and acoustic emissions, through the enclosure of storage and treatment facilities.

The counselor explained that the European standard that sets the conditions applicable to all facilities does not establish this enclosure as a requirement. However, despite not being required, it has been included in the Integrated Environmental Authorization because “they are due to the fact that in the current development of the activity, atmospheric and acoustic emissions are produced, the generation of which is technically possible to minimize or eliminate, through the closure of the storage and treatment facilities.

“We know that they have been appealed by the companies, appealing to the fact that there is a regulatory obligation to certain urban limitations and that the enclosure is incompatible with the current urban situation. We will see how we progress,” he stressed.

In this regard, he pointed out that the Basque Government met on November 4 with the Administrative Boards and the Legutio City Council to inform them about the modification of the Integrated Environmental Authorization, and explained that “it requires for its compliance the punctual modification of the urban regulations of Legutio”.

“We wanted with them, to define and clarify the will to continue with this measure to eliminate the inconvenience. On our part it is an express will and I understand that the City Council and the Administrative Boards also require it,” he added.

As reported, at that meeting all the administrations agreed to continue working and meet on November 30, together with the Álava Development Agency, responsible for the industrial estate, and the companies to “continue working along the established lines.”