WRITTEN QUESTION E-2513/02

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 September 2002)

Subject: Pollution in the vicinity of a steam power plant at Keratsini

A study carried out by the port police of the Ministry of Merchant Shipping (reference number 2412 of 2 April 2002) and the Central Port Authority of Piraeus has identified pollution in the fishing port of Keratsini and in the adjoining land and sea areas close to the steam power plant at Keratsini belonging to DEH (the Greek Public Power Corporation).

The pollution, which is creating serious environmental problems in the surrounding region, is caused by the presence of petroleum (fuel oil) in the stony subsoil beneath the power plant at Keratsini. The abovementioned study reports that there are serious indications that the phenomenon is due to the leakage of petroleum from the concrete containers used to store fuel at the plant up until the 1970s, which has now formed pockets in the subsoil and the water table. Furthermore, document No 112822 of 19 December 2001 drawn up by the Ministry of the Environment, Planning and Public Works notes that DEH is not authorised to dispose of liquid waste in the area concerned.

What measures will the Commission take to protect the environment in this specific area?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(15 November 2002)

Pollution of soil and groundwater in the vicinity of storage depots for fuel is quite frequent throughout the world, in particular due to technology on storage and handling of fuels used in the past. Whilst technology has changed and is not contributing any more to pollution of the environment, many regions in Europe face the challenge of past pollution. According to the question, the water pollution in this location was caused by installations and handling phased out in the 1970s, i.e. before the accession of Greece to the Union.

Community environmental legislation until 2000, including the 1980 Groundwater Directive(1), did neither provide for an environmental quality objective for groundwaters, nor for retroactive obligations for such remedial action. This legislation therefore does not provide for a legal basis for the Commission to intervene.

However, the Community has a comprehensive new water policy in the form of the Water Framework Directive adopted in 2000(2):

- protecting all waters, groundwaters and surface waters;

- addressing all sources of pollution including those from past industrial activities;

- obliging Member States to provide for good water quality (good status) for all their waters (including as described in the question groundwaters and coastal waters) by a set deadline;

- obliging Member States to do an analysis of impacts and pressures on all their waters by the end of 2004, followed by a full elaboration of the necessary measures to achieve the environmental objective of good status for all their waters.

The Commission therefore considers the report by Greek authorities on soil and groundwater pollution a first step in the context of its obligations under the Water Framework Directive. It will be the responsibility of the Greek authorities to take the necessary planning and remediation steps in line with the deadlines set out in the Directive. Certain remediation efforts might be subject to Community funding in the framework of relevant Regulations and the provisions on State Aid.

The Commission will:

- in general, in its role as Guardian of the Treaty, follow up on the issue of timely and appropriate implementation of this Directive, and use the informal cooperation between Member States and Commission on implementation as well;

- carefully assess the annual monitoring results under the Bathing Water Quality Directive(3) with regard to the water quality at beaches in the vicinity; the 2001 monitoring results show very good water quality for the Keratsini beach; the 2002 monitoring results will be available in early 2003.

(1) Council Directive 80/68/EEC of 17 December 1979, on the protection of groundwater against pollution by certain dangerous substances, OJ L 20, 16.1.1980.

(2) Directive 2000/60/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000.

(3) Council Directive 76/160/EEC of 8 December 1975 concerning the quality of bathing waters, OJ L 31, 5.2.1976.