WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1261/98 by Laura GONZÁLEZ ÁLVAREZ , Pedro MARSET CAMPOS to the Commission. Establishment of a solid waste tip at Dos Aguas (Valencia, Spain)
22. 12. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 402/103 (98/C 402/132) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1261/98 by Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL) and Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (29 April 1998) Subject: Establishment of a solid waste tip at Dos Aguas (Valencia, Spain) The plan to establish a solid waste tip in the district of Dos Aguas and surrounding areas is a cause of concern to local inhabitants regarding the effects that pollution will have on the catchment of water for human consumption, given that large areas of the Valencia coast are supplied from here. Various studies have shown that the planned tip at Dos Aguas is inadequate and will undermine efforts to develop a proper waste management strategy, as well as having major technical defects which pose a real threat of pollution to the areaís water supply and environment, preventing it from implementing a sustainable development strategy from within and jeopardizing the future of its inhabitants. The district of Dos Aguas and surrounding areas are also less-favoured regions where Leader initiatives or PRODER programmes are being applied and, if the tip goes ahead, none of the objectives set by the Commission for these areas will be achieved. The Commission: 1. Is it aware of the above situation? 2. What steps will it take vis-à-vis the Spanish authorities to ensure compliance with Community legislation on the environment and in particular with the following Directives: (a) Directive 91/156/EEC (1) on waste, (b) Directive 94/62/EEC (2) on packaging and packaging waste, (c) Directive 85/337/EEC (3) on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, (d) Directive 90/313/EEC (4) on the freedom of access to information on the environment and (e) Directive 92/43/EEC (5) on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora? 3. Will it provide information on any developments in this matter? (1) OJ L 78, 26. 3. 1991, p. 32. (2) OJ L 365, 31. 12. 1994, p. 10. (3) OJ L 175, 5. 7. 1985, p. 40. (4) OJ L 158, 23. 6. 1990, p. 56. (5) OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992, p. 7. Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (15 June 1998) The Commission was not aware of the situation described by the Honourable Members. The Commission will approach the Spanish authorities for information to ensure that Directive 91/156/EEC, amending Directive 75/442/EEC on waste, and Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment are being properly applied in this instance. The Commission is unable › on the basis of the information supplied by the Honourable Members › to establish whether Directives 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste, 90/313/EEC on the freedom of access to information on the environment and 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora are applicable in this particular situation. The Commission will not fail to inform the Honourable Members of the outcome of its contacts with the Spanish authorities