Toxic waste buried in Italy

The disaster must be healed, from the person who caused it

The disaster must be healed, from the person who caused it. "Unacceptable and in any event unfounded": this is the motivation with which the appeal was dismissed (Mont) Edison against the decision of the Ministry of the Environment of 13 September concerning the mega landfills in Bussi on Tirino (Pe). The measure ordered Edison to the removal of toxic waste buried in Bussi, where the establishment is located building owned by the company itself. In addition to the removal of harmful waste, also called for the restoration of the condition of the premises and the eventual reclamation of the area. The whole story dump poisons, which would have polluted groundwater in the Val Pescara for decades, sees an ongoing process with Montedison 19 defendants in the Court of Assizes in Chieti. It appears, therefore, another face unpredictable developments. Excluding the additional actions that will be presented in a higher grade, the judgment of the Tar Pescara states that Montedison is still the de facto owner of the chemical waste disposal despite the Solvay production plant after the implementation of landfills.  "In the sites in question were found highly polluting substances and they are typical of industrial waste products carried on by Edison Spa," it said in the judgment of the courts of Pescara tabled on 30 April, and again,'' the responsible for the pollution that can not be detected in those who run these facilities during the period prior to that in which pollution have started to be recognized. Consider also the extent and depth of such pollution, as well as its already significant effects on the environment caused (data fully analyzed and presented in the report Ispra), it is obvious that it relates to an activity of protracted and pollution dating back in time ". According to some estimates made ​​in the margin of the process of Chieti, for the total remediation of landfills Bussi could  600 to 800 million euro. "This is an important ruling for the reasons above - says Augusto De Sanctis, the Water Forum in Abruzzo - because it confirms the link between production and landfills. It 'a first step towards the remediation and re-establishes the principle that the polluter pays. bussi_piantaLa remediation will be long and complex, but at least it will work. ""The decision of the TAR Abruzzo recognizes the legitimacy of the injunction with which the Ministry of Environment has requested the restoration of the condition of the premises and the removal of toxic waste in landfills in the municipality of Bussi," noted the Minister of the Environment Gian Luca Galletti, who adds: "This is an important step towards the complete clean-up of the entire area, which is essential for its relaunch." Hermes says Realacci, chairman of the Environment Committee of the House VIII: "The polluter pays principle is sacred and is used both for what happened in the past and for the future to empower institutions, businesses and citizens with regard to the damage to health and to 'environment. "