site.btaEnvironmental Inspectorate Seals Kronospan Particleboard Line in Veliko Tarnovo

Employees of the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water (RIEW) sealed the particleboard production line at the Kronospan wood-processing plant on Sunday. The line was shut down in stages after the RIEW in Veliko Tarnovo ordered its suspension on January 16 following an unscheduled inspection prompted by numerous citizen complaints about strong odours and haze in residential areas.

The action constitutes a coercive administrative measure imposed on Kronospan Bulgaria, halting the operation of the particleboard production line at the company’s site in Veliko Tarnovo.

The plant appealed the measure, and on January 24 the Burgas Administrative Court suspended the preliminary enforcement of the coercive administrative measure ordering the suspension of production.

"The line was shut down within the statutory deadline, but in view of the court’s ruling, we believe that sealing the installation is unlawful, and we will notify the prosecution service about the actions of state administration officials at RIEW who are disregarding the court’s ruling," the company’s manager, Asen Nikov, told reporters. In his words, the court’s ruling entirely annuls the regional inspectorate’s order with immediate effect.

Stanislav Stanchev, Director of the RIEW in Veliko Tarnovo, said that the ruling of the Administrative Court would also be appealed to the Supreme Administrative Court within the seven-day deadline. He noted that the on-site sealing is part of the plan for enforcing the coercive administrative measure until the company takes steps to install equipment to address the unpleasant odours emitted by the wood production process. Stanchev added that this is one of the requirements under the plant’s integrated permit and that the court’s decision does not halt the sealing procedure.

Under the Environmental Protection Act, the RIEW has permanent access to the facility, Stanchev noted, adding that the company had complied on time with all requirements related to the phased shutdown of the line.

The sealing of the production line began amid an increased police presence, after it emerged that both sides had sent letters to the prosecution service and the police requesting assistance. After nearly three hours of coordination, discussions, and differing instructions, officials proceeded with sealing the designated points. With the shutdown of the line, the plant has ceased operations.