A company that dumped asphalt waste in a protected area of the Curonian Spit has failed in court due to non-compliance with environmental restoration regulations.
A company has been unsuccessful in court after violating environmental regulations by dumping approximately 1,200 tons of recycled asphalt waste in the protected Neringa forest roads within the Curonian Spit National Park, part of the Natura 2000 network. This illegal dumping has caused significant damage to the environment, prompting the authorities to mandate the company to remove the waste and restore the area to its original condition.
The court ruled that the company was required not only to prepare a waste management plan but also to coordinate it with the relevant authorities, including the Curonian Spit National Park Administration and the Neringa Municipality. However, the prepared plan did not receive approval from either of these entities and was found to lack the necessary evaluation procedures required by the Protected Areas Law, which are mandatory for activities in Natura 2000 sites.
In light of these failures to comply with environmental restoration directives, the court concluded that the company's actions did not meet the prescribed legal requirements. This ruling highlights the critical need for strict adherence to environmental regulations in protected areas, emphasizing the legal and ecological consequences of neglecting these responsibilities.
