Regeneration of the site of a former military arsenal on the island of La Maddalena (Italy)

13.1.2015

Question for written answer E-000347-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Ernest Urtasun (Verts/ALE)

In 2008, the Italian Government started to regenerate the site of a former military arsenal on the island of La Maddalena. 17 hectares of coastline and sea floor had been polluted by heavy metals and hydrocarbons, exceeding the limits set by national legislation. Out of the 62 000 tonnes of material collected, 21% were classified as hazardous. The total cost of the work was EUR 400 million.

The area was included on the list of Sites of National Interest (SINs) under Ordinance No 3716 on civil protection of 2008. The government subsequently decided to stop the regeneration project, but stated that it would complete it ‘for a relaunch of tourism initiatives in La Maddalena’ (Decree of the Presidency of the Council, 2012). The NOE (Operating Ecological Core) reports that the work has not been completed.

The pollution of the area was confirmed by the Ministry of the Environment report of the technical meeting of 23 April 2010 concerning the SIN ‘La Maddalena’. New data shows ‘a residual contamination by heavy metals’ that exceeds limit values (see minutes of technical meetings concerning the SIN ‘La Maddalena’).

How does the Commission intend to proceed in order to achieve complete regeneration of the area and to identify those responsible for the environmental damage as being responsible for the final restoration as well, in accordance with Directive 2004/35/EC?