StocaMine — hazardous waste storage

5.12.2017

Question for written answer E-007509-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Anne Sander (PPE)

A prefectoral order of 23 March 2017 authorises the final disposal of chemical waste from the StocaMine company deep in the mine at Wittelsheim (Haut-Rhin, France).

Over 44 000 tonnes of hazardous waste from French industries are stored there. It is made up of heavy metals (mercury, chromium, antimony), products containing cyanide, asbestos, plant-protection products and waste from the purification of smoke produced during the incineration of household waste.

Inhabitants of the area, associations and nationally, regionally and locally-elected representatives are concerned that the waste poses a long-term threat to Europe’s largest aquifer, which provides drinking water to the Alsace region.

Taking into account Directive 1999/31/EC, which states that burying waste in the ground is the least environmentally-sound solution and should be resorted to as little as possible, is the prefectoral order authorising the final disposal in conformity with European law?