The Minister of Ecological Transition maintains that this is the “only solution to ensure that waste cannot contaminate the water table” in Alsace which supplies drinking water to nearly 8 million inhabitants.
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The Minister of Ecological Transition, Christophe Béchu, announced on Tuesday September 19 his intention to start “immediately” toxic waste containment work at Stocamine. 42,000 tonnes of toxic waste (arsenic, mercury, asbestos, etc.) are stored in this former potash mine located in Wittelsheim (Haut-Rhin). The minister believes that this work must “must be completed by 2027”.
He maintains that it is the “the only solution to ensure that waste cannot contaminate the water table” phreatic water supply of Alsace which supplies drinking water to nearly 8 million inhabitants. An administrative procedure ultimately aiming to authorize the confinement of waste under concrete must result in the signing of a prefectural decree. “before the end of September”, announced the ministry. So far, the storage of waste is only authorized temporarily, until 2027. This authorization will mark the real green light for the start of the project. Christophe Béchu assured that he would travel to the site “in the next weeks”.
The LFI calls for a parliamentary commission of inquiry
The LFI-Nupes deputies are calling for the opening of a parliamentary commission of inquiry into “the wait-and-see attitude of public authorities” which would have forced us to opt for this solution “definitive burial of waste” to the detriment of a scenario for removing waste from the mine, according to a press release published by Insoumis elected official Emmanuel Fernandes. He maintains that “several material elements suggest that the public authorities have for 20 years been playing for time by letting the galleries deteriorate in order to impose” the solution of definitive confinement.
This containment solution is not supported at the local level. In June, a public survey was carried out among local residents on the project to contain waste. It received 98% unfavorable opinions. “Opinions favorable to the project can be counted on the fingers of one hand”noted the commission in charge of the public inquiry.