TRANSBOUNDARY PROCEDURE – TURÓW

The transboundary procedure with the Czech Party concerning the project entitled Continuation of exploitation of the Turów lignite deposit has been performed for several years in following scope:

1. Modification of the local spatial development plan of the City and Municipality of Bogatynia– the area of the Turów opencast lignite mine located in the vicinity of Opolno-Zdrój and

2. The procedure of the transboundary environmental impact of this project involving the Czech and German Parties since 2016

The Czech Party challenged the modification of the local spatial development plan of the City and Municipality of Bogatynia and requested initiation of a transboundary procedure, stating that this plan may have a significant transboundary environmental impact at the territory of the Czech Republic. The Polish Party by means of repeated submissions of documentation, reports and analyses, frequently going beyond the scope of a standard strategic environmental assessment procedure, was providing explainations for numerous inquiries and concerns of the Czech Party in this case. It should be emphasized that all comments, remarks and requests of the Czech Party submitted under the transboundary procedure were examined at the stage of a/m plan adoption.

In addition, to express the willingness of informing public concerned, living in a boundary areas in a reliable and transparent manner, as well as to keep good neighbourly relations with the Czech Republic and Federal Republic of Germany, the Polish Party has undertaken the following measures:

1. Informational meeting for the public of the Czech Republic, held on 17 September 2019 in Chotyne (building of a sports hall, 132 Sokolovna, Chotyne) with participation of the Polish investor;

2. Administrative public hearing open to the Polish, Czech and German public held on 19 September 2019 in the Cultural Centre in Bogatynia at ul. Żołnierzy II Armii Wojska Polskiego 1 in Bogatynia

3. Inter-governmental transboundary consultations in the form of expert meeting with the Federal Republic of Germany held on 4 September 2019 in Wroclaw

4. Inter-governmental transboundary consultations in the form of expert meeting with the Czech Republic held on 3-4 October 2019 in Wroclaw

Comprehensive information on the transboundary environmental impact procedure along with detailed description of the actions undertaken by the Polish Party is available here