Environment minister announces inspections at mining sites with risk of water resource pollution

Experts from the Ministry of Environment, the National Administration "Apele Romane" (Romanian Waters) (ANAR), and the National Environmental Guard (GNM) will carry out a series of thematic inspections at mining sites across the country where there is a risk of water resource pollution, announced Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests Mircea Fechet, in a post published Tuesday on the institution's official Facebook page.

"In order to prevent an environmental disaster like the one currently happening in Praid from happening again anywhere in Romania, colleagues from the ministry, experts from Apele Romane, and the National Environmental Guard will follow an action plan, in stages, with mixed inspection teams that will check mining sites - mine entrances, tailings piles, decant ponds - where there is a potential risk of water resource pollution. I want us to communicate transparently whether such operations are or could become sources of diffuse or point-source pollution of surface and underground waters, as well as of the environment in general," said Fechet.

According to the official, those who manage, exploit and extract natural resources are not allowed to systematically ignore specialists' warnings under the pretext of lacking investment funds.

According to the source, the purpose of the thematic inspections is to: prevent further environmental disasters and to immediately enforce compliance measures in cases where irregularities are found regarding environmental and water management permits, or operational violations - especially concerning wastewater treatment facilities prior to discharge.