WRITTEN QUESTION E-3300/02 by José Mendiluce Pereiro (PSE) to the Commission. Dumping of class II waste and composting plant in La Espluga de Francoli (Tarragona, Spain).
Date: 2002-11-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Spain, Structural Funds, application of EU law, environmental impact, environmental protection, storage of waste, waste management

3.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 155 E/131

Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(23 December 2002)

The new specific projects proposed in the White Paper on European transport policy for 2010 (1) and the
proposal to amend the guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network which was
adopted in October 2001 (2) include a new high-capacity rail link across the Pyrenees.

The Commission would stress that the existing rail link between Barcelona, Puigcerda, La Tour de Carol
and Toulouse is not on the trans-European network maps contained in Annex I to Decision 1692/96/EC
of Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for the development of the
trans-European transport network (3). Moreover, simply modernising this single mountain track, which
runs up and down steep slopes and passes over ridges at high altitude, is unlikely to provide sufficient
capacity to attract a large volume of freight traffic, unlike the TGV South already on the Essen list and a
new high-capacity rail link across the Pyrenees proposed by the Commission.

Within the framework of a more substantial amendment of
the
development of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T), the Commission has set up a high-level
group. The group brings together representatives from the Member States and observers from the
candidate countries.

the Community guidelines

for

The mandate of this group, which is independent from the Commission, is to examine potential specific
project proposals transmitted by the Member States. In particular it will look at how each project fits in
with the objectives of European transport policy, its Community added value and the sustainability of its
financing from now to 2020. The group is expected to send the Commission its recommendations in
2003.

(1) COM(2001) 370 final.
(2) COM(2001) 544 final.
(3) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.

(2003/C 155 E/145)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3300/02

by José Mendiluce Pereiro (PSE) to the Commission

(21 November 2002)

Subject: Dumping of class II waste and composting plant in La Espluga de Francoli (Tarragona, Spain)

A project is proposed for the Spanish municipality of La Espluga de Francoli (Tarragona province) for the
construction of a class II waste dump and composting plant. This scheme is promoted by a public
authority, the Consell Comarcal (district council) of La Conca de Berberà. The budget for the proposed
installations is estimated at EUR 3 726 045.

This project (involving excessively large installations in all cases) has provoked fierce opposition in the
local community, thanks to the enormous environmental impact that it would have at local level and to
the failure to provide information to those affected, while no action has been taken on any of the
complaints lodged.

The technical study is incomplete and contains none of the requisite environmental information. There
have not been any studies of the geological, hydrogeological or local meteorological aspects, or of the risks
of dispersal of pollutants. As far as leaching is concerned, the proposed treatment system, based on
evaporation, is out of date. Neither existence of housing only 500 m away from the installations nor of a
significant local wine industry has been taken into account.

One of the promoters’ main arguments in favour of the project is that the installations will be built at zero
cost, as they will be 100 % subsidised by various official entities, including the EU.

C 155 E/132

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.7.2003

Is the Commission aware of the existence of this project? If so, does it consider it to be compatible with
EU environmental law?

Is it the case that part of the investment entails collaboration with the EU by means of the Structural
Funds? If so, does the EU contribution apply to all or to part of the project? If to part, to which part(s)?
What sums are involved, and on what time basis?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(9 January 2003)

The project to which the Honourable Member refers is identical to a project submitted for cofinancing by
the Cohesion Fund.

It is one of a set of projects, ‘Municipal waste treatment plants in the Urgell, Pallás Llusá and Conca de
Barberá districts,’ and forms part of the Catalonia Municipal Waste Management Programme.

The Conca de Barberá project is in fact two projects:

(cid:1) the Espluga de Francolí composting plant;

(cid:1) the Espluga de Francolí landfill site.

When these were first presented, no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) had been carried out, though
the competent authorities had drawn the Commission’s attention to the need for one.

The Commission waited for the EIA to be done and the EIA statement was published on 6 March 2002.

According to the statement:

(cid:1) the public has been consulted;

(cid:1) with regard to the composting plant (7000 metric tonnes/year),

inspection conditions have been
established and the Commission regards such recycling of organic matter in areas where the soil is
lacking in it as a good way of using it to improve the soil in agriculture and forestry;

(cid:1) the landfill site proposed for the waste and the non-compostable products has the right guarantees as
regards impermeability and leachate treatment for this type of project. Leachate concentrates will be
treated by an approved contractor;

(cid:1) there are to be gas treatment installations with a capacity of 3 650 cubic metres per hectare (m3/h);

(cid:1) there is to be financially guaranteed permanent monitoring of operations, with conditions and

inspections specified in the EIA statement;

(cid:1) as regards the excessively large size of the installations, the Commission considers that, in view of the
size of the waste collection area and the proposed lifetime of the installations, the project applies
adequate principles of forecasting and prevention.

The Commission is going to ask the Spanish authorities for details on the project’s impact in view of the
proximity of residential areas, and will forward any reply it receives to the Honourable Member.

Accordingly, since it has been assured that the projects are unlikely to have any adverse effect on Natura
2000 sites, the Commission considers that the projects referred to by the Honourable Member comply
with European Union environmental protection legislation. The Commission intends to approve this set of
projects as soon as the budgetary resources for 2003 become available.