Dumping at sea of debris containing asbestos-bearing rock and other substances in connection with the ‘Gronda di Ponente’ project
23.5.2018
Question for written answer E-002765-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Tiziana Beghin (EFDD)
The ‘Gronda di Ponente’ infrastructure project involves the excavation of 45 km of tunnels through asbestos-bearing rock, generating a total of 10 881 120m3 of spoil, of which more than 5 190 923m3 will be of rocks containing asbestos (as acknowledged in the attached report), which will be dumped at sea in the area overlooking Genoa Airport (the ‘calm channel’).
The report includes a set of measures to prevent the asbestos from dispersing. However, despite the precautions, p. 90 of the report states: ‘since the amount of free fibres potentially released in the water are unknown, as a precautionary measure it is considered that this quantity could be significant’.
In addition to asbestos, the spoil could also contain traces of solvents and dangerous substances that are needed for mechanised excavation.
The dumping area is located in the ‘Cetacean Sanctuary’, with specimens that pass just a few hundred metres from the site.
The particular conformation of the currents (roughly indicated on page 53) could lead to contamination of the marine environment with a transnational dimension, including, but not limited to, the ‘Cetacean Sanctuary’ and the marine site of Community importance (SCI) IT1332477 ‘Fondali Arenzano’ (‘Arenzano Seabed’).
Can the Commission answer the following questions:
- 1.Does it not think an impact assessment needs to be carried out, in accordance with Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43/EEC?
- 2.Should an assessment of the impact of the dumping on cetaceans not also be carried out, in view of Article 8 of Directive 2008/56/EC?