The Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) has discovered non-compliance with conditions by the organizers of the construction of the company’s Start Campus data center in Sines (Setúbal), the organization said on Tuesday.
In its statement, ICNF said that during inspection activities to investigate the possible destruction of priority habitats, it confirmed that the condition of guaranteeing the integrity of the temporary pond “was not met.”
“The condition of guaranteeing the integrity of the temporary pond specified in the first ICNF opinion regarding the construction of the first Data Center pavilion on land outside the South West Coast Special Conservation Area (SCA) has not been met. , with the building being erected on top of an established site,” he said.
Regarding the two other temporary ponds found in the project area integrated in the Costa Sudoeste EEC, the ICNF emphasized that the Declaration of Environmental Impact (DIA) contains a compensatory measure, although their “degradation” was recorded during the investigation upon request. project promoter.”
Noting that this habitat loss compensation measure “involves the relocation of Erica ciliaris specimens identified in these areas,” the organization emphasized that the action is “published on page 34 of the DIA.”
“ICNF noted that of the two identified sites containing vegetation subject to relocation, one of them was partially covered and the required Environmental Compliance Report for the Implementation Project (RECAPE) had not yet been submitted by the promoter,” it added. .
The second site, he added, is “probably occupied by exotic species due to environmental changes.”
According to the ICNF, this inspection action, which took place from the 13th to the 17th of this month, was coordinated by the regional directorates of Algarve and Alentejo and aimed to investigate the possible destruction of priority habitats in the area of the data center.
The organization said it informed the Alentejo Regional Commission for Coordination and Development (CCDR) of these findings, keeping in mind that it is “the body responsible for investigating and deciding on cases of administrative offenses related to identified non-compliances.”
He emphasized that the Alentejo CCDR also has the competence to determine precautionary and/or preventive measures and the possible application of additional sanctions.
The ICNF also informed the General Inspectorate of Agriculture, the Sea, the Environment and Spatial Planning and the Portuguese Environmental Agency about the results of the audit.
The company Start Campus, which is building this data center in Sines, is one of the defendants in the Operation Influencer investigation, which became public after an operation carried out on November 7 by the Ministry of Public Affairs (MP).
A total of nine defendants are being investigated, including now-former Infrastructure Minister João Galamba, Portuguese Environmental Agency President Nuno Lacasta, Chamber of the Sines President Nuno Mascarenhas and Start Campus Rui administrators. Oliveira Neves and Afonso Salema.
António Costa became the subject of an investigation by a Supreme Court deputy after suspects in an investigation into influence peddling in a data center business in Sines named him as the person who interfered with unlocking procedures.
The deputy believes that the Prime Minister interfered with the approval of the diploma, beneficial to the interests of the Start Campus company, which is responsible for the data center, the indictment says.
In Portugal, on March 10, 2024, early elections will be held for legislative bodies appointed by the President of the Republic after the resignation of the Prime Minister.
On the day of his dismissal, Costa refused to engage in “any illegal or objectionable acts.”
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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