All the MPs on the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment agreed on Wednesday, after having heard the information provided by the minister Carole Dieschbourg that the Differdange landfill site constitutes a complex issue.
They also agreed that ArcelorMittal must file a complete application for authorisation to operate a classified establishment.
CSV MP Martine Hansen suggested ArcelorMittal had received preferential, more accommodating, treatment, stating that if smaller businesses or private land had been exposed to the same issues, the government would have acted faster.
For decades ArcelorMittal has been allowed to do things, criticised Lénk MP David Wagener. He claimed ArcelorMittal did not view the site as a landfill, but as an internal facility at production, in their interpretation of the law.
According to DP MP Gusty Graas, it cannot be disputed that there was less pressure on Arcelor in the 60s and 70s. However, times have changed and it would be necessary to adopt more stringent controls, regardless of the name of the company.
Once all the data has been gathered, the ministry will see if a legal basis can be given, said Minister Carole Dieschbourg, so Arcelor will be treated in the same way as all other companies. She said they must provide the government with the necessary data, so that a decision can be made. If the data fits with the legal framework, then they will receive an authorisation. Dieschbourg said in Luxembourg, all businesses are treated on the same basis.
In this case, it is the "polluter pays" principle that will apply: whoever has polluted, will have to pay for the studies and all that will ensue, said the Minister.
Crassier de Differdange: Les communes critiquent la politique d'ArcelorMittal qui relativise
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