KIMO Baltic Sea successfully lobbies the Klaipeda State Sea Port Authority and the Lithuanian government to halt the dumping of silt contaminated with heavy metals into the Baltic Sea
The original environmental analysis carried out by the University of Klaipeda Baltic Coastal Research and Planning Institute showed that the silt in question was classified with a ‘3d hazardousness’. Metals such as lead, nickel, zinc, cadmium, chromium, and even mercury were identified in the bay. Despite of that, relevant institutions were issued with a permit for dumping the material.
KIMO Baltic Sea was swift in condemning the intentions of the Klaipeda State Sea Port Authority in an open letter to the President of Lithuania, the Lithuanian Ministry of Environment and the press. KIMO explained that if toxic materials such as these continued to be discharged into the sea there would be a significant negative impact on the Baltic Sea eco-system.
KIMO Baltic Sea Chair Monica Gripp stated, “As Lithuania supports the idea of sustainable development it is incongruous that they should permit dumping of silt polluted with heavy metals could cause a negative environmental impact. Instead, polluted silt such as this should be managed and stored on land in a suitable site, which is designed to safely contain and concentrate hazardous materials.”
The letter raised the profile of the issue and allowed KIMO Baltic Vice-Chair Rolandas Brazinskas to appear on both radio and TV in Lithuania condemning the decision to dump the contaminated material.
The Lithuanian Government has since withdrawn the authorisation to dump the contaminated material after further tests on the silt showed the initial data was inaccurate.
Read the English press release here.