PR:It is after election and minister Brabec gave municipalities a slap in the face

=> CZECH version of this press release

Press Release of Platform Against Deep Repository dated November 10, 2017 http://www.platformaprotiulozisti.cz/cs/press

Municipalities associated in the Platform are going to defend themselves
'''Minister of the Environment Richard Brabec surprisingly brought exploration permits for geological exploration for potential repository sites at Březový potok (near Horažďovice), Čertovka (near Lubenec), Čihadlo (near Lodhéřov in Jindřichův Hradec) and Magdaléna (near Jistebnice in Tábor) back to life. The decision about the remaining three exploration permits for the sites in Highlands will be taken later.'''

The Minister canceled his earlier ministerial decision and stated that it will be decided again about extension of the validity of the exploration areas, although their validity expired at the end of 2016. This is in full contradiction with the law. This is also another of the chaotic steps taken by the state administration in the preparation of this strategic and sensitive construction for over one hundred billion Czech crowns. By taking this step, the Minister is clumsily attempting to compensate for the previous negligence of officials of the Radioactive Waste Repository Authority (RAWRA) who have failed to carry out geological surveys as originally planned date, or to ensure the extension of the validity of the exploration areas which makes geological survey possible. The consequences of this chaotic process are taken away by local authorities in selected sites.

In the meantime, RAWRA has begun to claim that the exploration permits are not neccessary for carrying out the planned geological works, and the initially planned work began with the quiet approval of the Ministry of the Environment (MoE) as a geological research for which exploration areas are not needed.

At our instigation, the Ministry of the Environment carried out a review of RAWRA's work in June 2017 to clarify the accuracy of the RAWRA process. Until this time, the result has been unknown, Minister Brabec has not responded to the open letter of the Platform Against Deep Repository of 16th October, urging this issue.

The Municipal Court in Prague has not yet decided on the actions of 18 municipalities and 6 associations that have challenged the illegality of the setting up exploration areas in 2015. Municipalities and associations associated the Platform Against Deep Repository are still prepared to use all available legal means to defend the interests of the concerned inhabitants.

Petr Nohava, spokeperson of the Platform Against Deep Repository said: "To municipalities, it is another slap in the face. And the message is clear – rules do not apply. The state loses the last remnants of credibility and the whole process begins to resemble the farce.“ Pavel Doucha, partner in a law firm Doucha Šikola Advocates Ltd. added: ''"The ministry's approach is difficult to understand from legal point of view. Just as it is not possible to revive corpses, it is impossible to extend permits that have expired. "''

Platform Against Deep Repository associates 35 members (23 municipalities and 12 associations) and its aim is to enforce such a way of finding a solution that would be open, transparent and which by law would adequately guarantee the rights of the municipality and the public's rightful welfare. http://www.platformaprotiulozisti.cz/

 Further information can be provided by: 
 * Ing. Petr Nohava, Mayor of Pluhův Žďár and spokesman for the Platform Against Deep Repository - tel.: 725 972 632, e-mail:[mailto:pnohavaATgmailDOTcom pnohava AT gmail DOT com]
 * Mgr. Pavel Doucha, partner in a law firm Doucha Šikola Advocates Ltd. – tel.: 608 873 437, e-mail: [mailto:douchaATdsadvokatiDOTcz doucha AT dsadvokati DOT cz]