The Environmental and Natural Resources Appeals Board has rejected a request from environmental organizations to halt preparatory construction work for the Hvammsvirkjun power plant.
NASF Iceland, Náttúrugrið, and the Iceland Nature Conservation Association had appealed the decision of the Rangárþing ytra municipal council on August 15 to grant Landsvirkjun a construction permit for the preparatory work.
The organizations also argued that the public participation rights granted during the environmental impact assessment — specifically regarding the effects on groundwater and lava fields — did not comply with the law.
In its ruling, the board stated that the construction is already underway and is expected to be completed no later than January.
“A substantive ruling in this case can be expected before that time. Circumstances have changed compared to when the board issued its interim ruling … as there is now a permit in place from a specialized permitting authority, the Environment and Energy Agency.
Even though various questions remain in this case that require further examination, and although there are substantial grounds for the appeal, it cannot be ignored that the construction area has already been disturbed, that halting the work would cause significant financial damage to the permit holder, and that the construction appears to be in accordance with the zoning plan for the area,” the ruling states.
Source: Mbl.is
