Planned Submarine Disposal of Mining Waste in the Førde Fjord of Norway
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Planned submarine disposal of mining waste in the Førde Fjord of Norway - underestimation and undercommunication of harmful effects of suspended industry-created particles on fish Agnar Kvellestad Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences (previously Norwegian School of Veterinary Science) Institute of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine Campus Adamstua, 0033 Oslo Oslo, 01.12.2015. 2 «Absence of evidence in reports is not evidence of absence» 3 Preface The planned mining of the Engebø Mountain and submarine tailings disposal of millions of tonnes in the Førde Fjord is controversial despite granted by Norwegian Authorities. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) includes a number of issues, among these the effect of the industry-created particles in question on marine life. The present report is a critical review of EIA reports made by the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) and Det norske veritas (DNV) GL on behalf of the company Nordic Mining ASA, and on evaluations performed by the Norwegian Environment Agency. Especially is focused on effects of waste particles on fish, but a complete review of existing knowledge is beyond the scope of the present report. Importantly, the views expressed are my own and do not represent the university, to which I am affiliated. This is not just about one particular discharge project but also generally about standards of Norwegian EIAs and environmental quality fulfilling the recommendations of e.g. the EC Water Framework Directive. Most texts prepared during decision-making, i.e. reports, notes and public presentations, have been written in Norwegian. Therefore, selected texts have been translated into English by undersigned, for the purpose of the present report, and presented along with the Norwegian versions. Also selected texts in cited sources in other languages have been translated. Agnar Kvellestad B.Sc. (cand.mag.), B.V.Sc. (cand.med.vet.), dr.philos. 4 Content 2 Summary.......................................................................................................................................... 7 3 Summary in Norwegian ................................................................................................................. 10 4 Background .................................................................................................................................... 13 4.1 A large project ....................................................................................................................... 13 4.2 Legislation and EIA ................................................................................................................ 14 4.2.1 Selected legislation ........................................................................................................ 14 4.2.2 From observations to ELVs ............................................................................................ 15 4.3 EIA and granting of the mining project ................................................................................. 16 4.4 Debate ................................................................................................................................... 17 4.5 The present report ................................................................................................................ 17 5 Characterization of particles ......................................................................................................... 19 5.1 Particles ................................................................................................................................. 19 5.2 The natural background of particles ..................................................................................... 21 5.3 Industry-created particles ..................................................................................................... 21 5.3.1 General .......................................................................................................................... 21 5.3.2 Grinded eclogite ............................................................................................................ 22 5.3.3 Grinded eclogite with flocculants .................................................................................. 24 5.3.4 Particles referred to by NIVA and DNV GL .................................................................... 26 5.3.5 Modeling of particle spread in the water body ............................................................. 26 5.4 Are the industry-created particles inert? .............................................................................. 28 5.4.1 Grinded eclogite ............................................................................................................ 28 5.4.2 Grinded eclogite with process chemical compounds .................................................... 28 6 Effects of particles on fish ............................................................................................................. 30 6.1 Mechanisms of effects .......................................................................................................... 30 6.1.1 General .......................................................................................................................... 30 6.1.2 Particles ......................................................................................................................... 30 6.1.3 Environment .................................................................................................................. 32 6.1.4 Fish ................................................................................................................................. 32 6.1.5 Mechanisms of indirect effects ..................................................................................... 36 6.2 Simplified approach of EIA .................................................................................................... 36 6.3 Incorrect and confusing use of terms .................................................................................... 38 6.4 Important knowledge not referred in the EIA ....................................................................... 38 6.4.1 General .......................................................................................................................... 38 6.4.2 Effects on eggs ............................................................................................................... 39 6.4.3 Cod eggs at Redal Bay in Førde Fjord ............................................................................ 40 6.4.4 Effects on larvae ............................................................................................................ 41 5 6.4.5 Juvenile and adult fish ................................................................................................... 42 6.4.6 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 42 6.4.7 Perception of this knowledge in other countries than Norway .................................... 43 6.4.8 Different quality standards in Norway and Sweden ............................................... 44 6.4.9 Foreign limits ................................................................................................................. 44 6.5 Unexploited opportunities .................................................................................................... 45 7 Contributions from NIVA ............................................................................................................... 46 7.1 An important report .............................................................................................................. 46 7.1.1 Salmonids in freshwater - models for exposure ............................................................ 47 7.1.2 Salmonids in freshwater – reduced growth rate ........................................................... 51 7.1.3 Marine fish ..................................................................................................................... 52 7.1.4 Summary in the second version of the report .............................................................. 56 7.2 Unclear reports ...................................................................................................................... 56 7.3 Report with general limit of 50 mg/L .................................................................................... 57 7.4 Note about farmed fish ......................................................................................................... 58 7.5 Note by NIVA & DNV GL ........................................................................................................ 59 7.6 NIVA commissioned to a report from the Norwegian Environment Agency (MDIR) ............ 61 7.7 NIVA promoted mining and waste disposal in the Førde Fjord ............................................ 63 7.7.1 Reports from NIVA ........................................................................................................ 63 7.7.2 Public presentations ...................................................................................................... 63 7.7.3 Application for permit ................................................................................................... 66 7.8 Summary of NIVA’s contribution 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