– I apologize for the outcome this had. I believe that we have obligations both locally, nationally and internationally, says Per Harald Agerup (Sp). Head of the main committee for regulation, municipal engineering and the environment in Holmestrand, Per Harald Agerup. Photo: Guro Hatlo / news Agerup is head of the main committee for regulation, municipal engineering and the environment in Holmestrand. – This should be continued, as has been the assumption from the state side, he says. They say no to this until NOAH has applied for permission for a dewatering plant with a filter press. The company also wants to build a new quay on the island for electric ferries. In August, the main committee put an end to this when they adopted a temporary ban on construction and subdivision on Langøya. The state administrator in Vestfold and Telemark asked the politicians to process the case again. It has been justified by national considerations for the treatment of hazardous waste. On Wednesday evening, the politicians in Holmestrand won the rematch and are standing their ground. A majority thus upholds the decision to ban new extensions on Langøya. – This is only a temporary no, says Julie Guttormsen (MDG), who was one of those who said no to further storage of hazardous waste. Julie Guttormsen, local politician for the Green Party in Holmestrand and member of the main committee for regulation, municipal engineering and the environment. Photo: Guro Hatlo / news When the municipality has laid down new regulations for Langøya, which state that there should be no industry after 2030, NOAH can get permission for a dewatering plant again, she says. – In the meantime, the government must work to find temporary solutions to store this hazardous waste. Today, there is no other place to store hazardous waste in Norway. – Are you going to be run over by the government? – We believe that there are opportunities that the authorities have not yet looked at. – No one can take over NOAH has previously explained that such a decision means that the reception capacity on Langøya will end in two years. It has been decided that the landfill operations on Langøya will cease in 2030, but no alternative has been found for Langøya after Brevik said no to a landfill for hazardous waste. – There is no one who is able to take over for us in 2024, but we could last until 2030 if we were able to expand our facility, said CEO of NOAH, Anders Lægreid after the Holmestrand politicians’ first decision. Now the case ends up on the table of Minister for Municipalities and Districts Sigbjørn Gjelsvik for a decision.
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