WRITTEN QUESTION E-0870/01 by Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Waste dumps from slate quarries in San Pedro de Trones (León, Spain).
Date: 2001-03-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Castile-Leon, civil defence, earths and stones, environmental impact, mining of ore

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/139

(2001/C 318 E/148)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0870/01

by Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 March 2001)

Subject: Waste dumps from slate quarries in San Pedro de Trones (Le(cid:243)n, Spain)

Within the town of San Pedro de Trones in the municipality of Puente de Domingo Fl(cid:243)rez (Le(cid:243)n province,
Spain) stand two huge waste dumps, the product of slate quarrying by the Piforsa and Pilesa companies.
The first dump rises up a mountainside to a height of 800 metres above the town and stands a mere 80
metres from the nearest houses. The cracks in it are such that it risks sliding or collapsing into these
houses. The second dump, which towers above a district of the town, threatens to give way at any time.
Both dumps, therefore, pose a serious threat to the local residents; for the past two years the government
of Castilla y Le(cid:243)n has been promising measures to remedy and minimise their impact, as well as
a management plan for slate quarrying in the area.

What measures does the Commission intend to take to guarantee the application of Directive 85/337/
EEC (1) on environmental impact assessments and of Directive 90/313/EEC (2) on the freedom of access to
information on the environment?

(1) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985, p. 40.
(2) OJ L 158, 23.6.1990, p. 56.

Answer given by Ms Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2001)

The Commission is aware of the situation referred to by the Honourable Member.

Acting on the information provided in the Honourable Member(cid:146)s Written Question E-252/99 (1), which
deplored the existence of huge, unauthorised slate dumps in San Pedro de Trones, the Commission
launched an own-initiative investigation and contacted the Spanish authorities to ask for their comments
on the situation described.

The Spanish authorities informed the Commission that all the slate mines in San Pedro de Trones had an
environmental restoration plan, on the basis of which they had been approved by the competent
environmental authorities; copies of the mining permits were also sent to the Commission.

The Spanish authorities have stated that the Piforsa mine mentioned in the written question, situated 683
metres from the nearest houses according to information and maps submitted to the Commission, has the
appropriate permit.

The authorities have also informed the Commission that two studies have been carried out since cracks
appeared in the heaps: one by the University of Oviedo at the request of Piforsa, the other specifically to
study the geotechnical characteristics of the ground between the Piforsa mine and San Pedro de Trones.
The two studies conclude that there is no danger for the neighbouring population.

The matter was discussed at the bilateral meeting with the Spanish authorities in Madrid in October 2000.
The authorities presented information at the meeting which confirmed that the population was not at risk.

The Spanish authorities have also sent the Commission a development plan for the slate mines, which
provides for the restructuring of the slag heaps at San Pedro de Trones.

Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and
private projects on the environment (2), as amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997 (3), is
applicable only to projects which have not yet been authorised, and not to existing installations, with the
exception of possible modifications or extensions of such installations which could have a considerable
impact on the environment.

C 318 E/140

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

In the light of the information provided in the present question, the Commission is unable to identify any
infringement of Council Directive 90/313/EEC of 7 June 1990 on the freedom of access to information on
the environment (4).

Under the circumstances and given the information available, the Commission is unable to continue its
examination of the situation in the absence of any evidence of an infringement.

However, the Commission does not exclude the possibility of further investigating the problem raised by
the Honourable Member should she be able to provide evidence of a breach of Community law.

(1) OJ C 341, 29.11.1999.
(2) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(3) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.
(4) OJ L 158, 23.6.1990.

(2001/C 318 E/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0871/01

by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN), Sergio Berlato (UEN),
Cristiana Muscardini (UEN), Francesco Turchi (UEN), Roberta Angelilli (UEN),
Sebastiano Musumeci (UEN), JosØ Ribeiro e Castro (UEN), Mauro Nobilia (UEN),
Niall Andrews (UEN) and William Abitbol (EDD) to the Commission

Subject: Bringing forward revision of CAP for oil seed sector

(22 March 2001)

The increase in the demand for vegetable proteins (and the consequent steep rise in prices) caused by the
ban on the use of animal proteins in animal feed suggests that the specific characteristics of the oil seed
sector should be re-examined.

Does the Commission not consider, therefore, that the EU should become more self-sufficient in the supply
of proteins, in view of the need to ensure that products are free of GMOs (genetically modified organisms),
so as not to give consumers any further grounds for concern?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2001)

In response to the Council(cid:146)s request at its special meeting on 4 December 2000, the Commission has
carried out an analysis of supply and demand for protein-rich plants (1).

One of the conclusions of the analysis is that replacing protein from meat-and-bone meal with plant
protein poses no major problems.

The availability of soya cake, the best source of replacement protein, at reasonable prices means that the
shortfall can easily be made up with additional imports of products complying with Community law in
force, including the provisions on genetically modified organisms.

With the adoption of Directive 2001/18/EC (2), which replaces Council Directive 90/220/EEC of 23 April
1990 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms (3), the Community
food and environmental safety and the possibility of
has legislation providing both a guarantee of
marketing products utilising GMOs, subject in particular to conditions covering labelling, traceability, risk
management and monitoring.

Within the limits of what consumers are willing to pay, Community producers of non-GMO products will
also be able to benefit from special prices that stimulate the market for such niche products.

(1) COM(2001) 148 final.
(2) OJ L 106, 17.4.2001.
(3) OJ L 117, 8.5.1990.