Heidelberg Materials, formerly Cementa, has applied for and now received a 30-year permit for the extraction of limestone and marlstone in the File Hajdar quarry and marlstone in Västra Brottet, as well as for sorting, crushing, and transporting the stone material.
The permit also includes the right to divert seeping day and groundwater from, among other things, the File Hajdar quarry and Västra Brottet.
Many Conditions
"The company has thoroughly reported the environmental consequences of the planned quarrying activities. The application contains information that makes it possible to overview the entire permit period," says the court's chairman, magistrate Inge Karlström, in a press release.
The court has imposed a large number of conditions to limit disturbances to humans and the environment that the activities may cause. Among other things, it concerns restrictions on noise and measures against dusting during transportation.
Requirements for Water Protection
There are also detailed requirements for how groundwater and surface water should be protected. The court has found that the limestone quarrying will not affect the possibility of safe water supply and nor the possibility of water extraction from individual wells in the vicinity of the quarries.
"The documentation presented by the company shows that continued quarrying activities will not jeopardize the drinking water supply. If damage to individual wells in the surrounding area should still occur, the company is obligated to compensate well owners by arranging new drinking water supply," says Inge Karlström.
The judgment from the Land and Environment Court can be appealed. The court has, however, decided that the environmental permit may be taken into use immediately, with certain limitations, even if the judgment is appealed.
