Bang effect in the Causa pump storage on the Koralm: The federal administrative court definitively rejects the controversial power plant.
Wolfgang Rehm of the environmental organization Virus was the first on Tuesday to say what many observers have probably thought in recent years: “I have never seen a project in Austria that was not environmentally friendly in so many departments, not state-of-the-art and met not even the primary technical proofs of concept – that would have been enough for at least ten rejections!”
But from the start: The operating company was founded in 2012 and is 50 percent owned by Alfred Liechtenstein’s Mohik-Wertholz GmbH, 48 percent by forester Peter Masser’s Sonnhof Entwicklungs GmbH and one percent each by Andritz Hydro GmbH and Porr Bau GmbH.
Since then, the plan has been to build a huge pump storage in the Glitzalm area. Despite serious reservations, there was always broad support from the Styrian state government and the responsible officials of the A13.
Land did not want an environmental audit
For example, in May 2016, the government ruled by a court decision that no environmental impact assessment (EIA) was required for the project. On the other hand, environmentalists rioted and filed a complaint.
On August 10, 2016, the Federal Administrative Court ruled that an EIA must be carried out for the mammoth project. More than five years later, the positive decision of the A13 came – even though there were obvious shortcomings in the submission documents.
Shortly afterwards, however, the “Krone” revealed that senior officials of the responsible department sometimes let the project applicants draw up decisions themselves, as was the case with the pumped storage on the Kor-alm – the beginning of the end! The Federal Court of Audit has recently confirmed all allegations and eight suspects are now under investigation.
Embarrassing: glaring research flaws
All the less surprising is the decision of the Federal Administrative Court, which upheld the complaints of 17 parties against the positive EIA decision. There are “flagrant research deficiencies in many specialist areas that have been clearly exposed”. The ordinary legal procedure has thus been completed, the project applicants now only have the option of an extraordinary legal remedy, which would take years and has little chance of success given the factual and legal situation.
Project promoter Peter Masser learned of the “Krone’s” decision, but would not comment on it.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
