The case in summary: • The mining company SMA Nordland AS has had its application to extract dolomite in Kvitberget in Bodø municipality rejected.• The rejection is because the extraction will have significant negative consequences for reindeer herding in the area, including the closure of an important relocation site for the reindeer. • The refusal pleases the reindeer owner in the Saltfjellet reindeer herding district, Per Thomas Kuhmunen, who sees it as progress for the protection of reindeer grazing land.• The chairman of SMA Nordland AS, Jan Normann Nilsen, says they will appeal the refusal to the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – It is absolutely incredible. It’s like an anniversary for us. We are incredibly happy that they have been refused. This is what Per Thomas Kuhmunen, reindeer owner in the Saltfjellet reindeer herding district, says. The statement comes after the Directorate for Mineral Management (DMF) rejected SMA Nordland AS’s application to start mining operations in Kvitberget in Bodø municipality. The conflict over the mine has been going on for decades. Despite attempts to find mitigating measures and enter into agreements, disagreements about the environmental consequences and violations of the reindeer husbandry’s relocation lease have been key obstacles. Contrary to the Reindeer Herding Act The DMF’s refusal is due precisely to the fact that the extraction will have significant negative consequences for reindeer herding in the area, and that there are insufficient measures to reduce these consequences. In addition, the extraction will lead to the closure of an important relocation site for the reindeer, which is contrary to the Reindeer Management Act. Kuhmunen calls this progress for the protection of reindeer grazing land. Kuhmunen does not cheer loudly yet. Photo: Synnøve Sundby Fallmyr / news He says that even though the decision to refuse was good news, he nevertheless takes reservations that the joy may be short-lived. – You don’t dare shout “hello” yet, until you are over the stream, but the lawyer says it is a thorough refusal and good professional work, says Kuhmunen. Will appeal the case Chairman of SMA Nordland AS, Jan Normann Nilsen, tells news that they will appeal the refusal. – We have received a thorough refusal, which we will review, and we will appeal the case (ed. note appeal is not relevant unless the case comes before the courts) to the Ministry of Business. Normann Nilsen believes the consequence now is that the country must source minerals from abroad, from countries such as China, India and Canada. In his opinion, this is not sustainable. Chairman Jan Normann Nilsen says that SMA Nordland will appeal the refusal. Photo: Eilif Aslaksen / news SMA Nordland believes that reindeer husbandry and dolomite extraction can be combined through good cooperation and close dialogue. – We have a dialogue with the reindeer grazing district, and we need to have a discussion about what type of mitigation measures we need to have in order to safeguard the reindeer herding’s operations as well. We think that is entirely possible. However, Per Thomas Kuhmunen does not agree with this. Divided opinions Kuhmunen says that they have not had a closer dialogue with SMA Nordland than they absolutely had to have. – We have attended the meetings they have wanted to try to explain and for them to understand the seriousness of reindeer herding’s existence. But they haven’t realized it, they simply don’t want to understand. Normann Nilsen nevertheless believes that there has been close cooperation between SMA Nordland and the reindeer herding district: – We have been very responsive in safeguarding the rights of reindeer husbandry. Now I think it is important that we get together as a team and look at the solutions for the future, that we look ahead, says Normann Nielsen. Kuhmunen now hopes that SMA Nordland will not be successful in the appeal. – But it’s a relief that we have, in a way, made some headway, that they have been refused in this case. No basis for mitigating measures Case manager at DMF, Kjetil Glad Vangen, explains that the overall negative consequences for reindeer husbandry clearly exceed the positive aspects of the measure in DMF’s assessment. – In its investigation of the case, DMF has found no basis for mitigating measures to offset the negative consequences to a sufficient extent. Read the full conclusion of the decision “DMF assesses accordingly that the requested mineral extraction will have a significant negative effect on the “natural basis for Sami culture, business and social life” in the area, cf. Minerals Act § 2 letter b, and that there is no agreement or plans for mitigating measures that reduce this negative impact to a sufficient extent. DMF also assesses that the requested mineral extraction will mean that the moving lease past the concession area will be closed, contrary to the prohibition against this in Section 22 of the Reindeer Herding Act. In DMF’s assessment, the overall negative consequences for reindeer herding clearly exceed the positive aspects of the measure. In its investigation of the case, DMF has found no basis for mitigating measures to offset the negative consequences to a sufficient extent. The application must therefore be refused on the basis of section 43 of the Minerals Act, cf. section 2. The application has several other weaknesses related to safeguarding nature and after-use, operating plan and budget, as described in the previous section. DMF does not consider it appropriate to ask for clarification on these points, as the application must be refused anyway.” The Norwegian Directorate for Mineral Management The investigated consequences for reindeer husbandry are, in short, greatly reduced opportunities for moving to and from grazing areas, according to him. – SMA Nordland AS has the right to appeal the decision under the Public Administration Act, and it is not unusual for someone who has had an application rejected to choose to appeal. Published 22.08.2024, at 20.07 Updated 22.08.2024, at 21.00
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Refusal of SMA Nordland mining application in reindeer husbandry area – news Sápmi
