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Conclusion of agreement on assessment of transboundary environmental impact

Yesterday, 21 February, Heiki Kranich, Minister of Environment of Estonia, and Satu Hassi, Minister of Environment of Finland, signed an Estonian-Finnish intergovernmental agreement on assessment of transboundary environmental impact.

According to Heiki Kranich, Estonia and Finland will already very soon need to assess potential transboundary environmental impact of several activities, as Finland is considering the construction of a new nuclear power station and Estonia is planning the reconstruction of boilers of power plants as well as establishment of new oil terminals and chemical terminals.

The agreement signed by Estonian and Finnish ministers of environment specifies the activities which may have a transboundary adverse impact on the environment, and provides a mechanism for mutual notification of the activities envisaged.

The neighbouring countries will duly inform the other Party of their plans to construct e. g. a crude oil refinery, thermal power station or other combustion plants, or a treatment plant for nuclear fuel or radioactive waste. They will also notify each other of any plans to construct major highways, main railways or airport main runways, oil or gas pipelines or underwater pipelines in the Baltic Sea, as well as cargo ports, tunnels between Estonia and Finland, pulp and paper factories, etc. 

Within two months after receipt of the relevant information, a Party will announce its position as to whether it wishes to participate in environmental impact assessment.
According to Rein Raudsepp, Director of Environmental Management and Technology Department, environmentalists in Finland are deeply concerned about intensive construction in Muuga tanker port, as the port is located immediately on the Gulf of Finland. There is a plan to construct two new tanker quays and to install three new buffer tanks in the western part of Muuga port. According to the expansion plan of the port, it is also envisaged to construct several new terminals (container terminal, terminals for general wares, fertilisers, cement and coal). Environmental impact assessment will be carried out prior to the construction of any of the above facilities. 

The first Estonian-Finnish joint assessment of transboundary environmental impact was initiated in connection with the renovation of the boilers of Narva power plants. At the end of 2001, the Estonian Ministry of Environment notified the Finnish Ministry of Environment and the Environmental Committee of the Russian Federation of the process. Finland wished to participate in the relevant environmental impact assessment and the assessment procedure is currently underway. 
Assessment of transboundary environmental impact is stipulated in the UN Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) concluded in Finland in 1991. Finland ratified the Convention in 1995 and Estonia in 2000.

Additional information: Allan Gromov, Deputy Secretary General, tel: 626 2840, 050-11485