Illegal Emissions Permit for Czech Coal Plant Quashed Again

Chvaletice coal-fired power plant, Czech Republic. PHOTO: Laura Otýpková, Frank Bold

We have good news to share from ELAW partners at Frank Bold:
 
For the second time, the Czech Ministry of the Environment denied an application from the Chvaletice coal-fired power plant to discharge nitrogen oxides (NOx) and mercury (Hg) far above the legal limit. The requested emissions would have exceeded permitted mercury levels by more than 300%.
 
Laura Otýpková, a staff lawyer at Frank Bold, wrote to ELAW Staff Scientist Dr. Mark Chernaik:
 
“Thanks for all of your support throughout this case. I am very happy to share these results with you, even though it took more than two years to get here!”
 
Laura was an ELAW Fellow in the summer of 2019 and worked closely with Mark to assess the environmental impacts of the nitrogen oxides and mercury emissions, to substantiate Frank Bold’s objections to the power plant’s application.
 
The Chvaletice power plant is fueled by lignite, the dirtiest form of coal. Plant operators began requesting an exemption from emissions limits in January 2019. In November 2019, we celebrated when the Czech Ministry of Environment rejected the request for the first time.
 
Last month, the Ministry of Environment quashed the exemption for the second time, after it had been granted by the regional authority again.
 
For more information, see:
 
March 12, 2021
Press release from Greenpeace Czech Republic, Frank Bold, Let’s Stop the Chvaletice Power Plant, and the Friends of the Earth CZ

Maggie Keenan
Communications Director
Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide