17.06.2024
The Ministry of Regional Development and Agriculture sent the Rail Baltic plan, along with the Natura and strategic environmental impact assessment report and the Natura compensation plan, to various parties for their opinions. The plan solution will be presented to all interested parties in early July.
Rail Baltic Project Manager, Ministry of Regional Development and Agriculture Eleri KautlenbachAccording to i, the materials have been supplemented following the coordination at the end of last year and the beginning of this year, and the additions need to be coordinated with the institutions affected by these changes.
"With the approval, we want confirmation that the plan complies with all applicable laws, standards and other requirements and will receive approval from all relevant authorities. On the other hand, we are also waiting for substantive feedback on the solution and its effects, based on which the materials will be supplemented if necessary after approval," Kautlenbach specified.
The plan was sent for approval to the Ministry of Climate, the Environmental Board, the Land Board, the Consumer Protection and Technical Supervision Board, the Agricultural and Food Board, the Transport Board, the State Forest Management Centre, the Häädemeeste Rural Municipality Government, the Saarde Rural Municipality Government and the Pärnu City Government. The ministry expects approvals within 30 days.
Following the previous coordination, there has been a need to:
- expand the Kotisoo-Marina permanent habitat being established in Saarde rural municipality and specify restoration activities in the area so that the wild animals have better living conditions there;
- specify which activities are permitted in buffer zones surrounding game reserves to ensure effective compensation for adverse impacts on game;
- to specify the conditions for the operation of the Kullipesa ecoduct and the green network in the area in the city of Pärnu in connection with the intersection of the Rail Baltica railway route with the prospective Via Baltica Pärnu city bypass, and
- to re-plan the green network in the area of the Rail Baltic route corridor, which was cancelled by the Supreme Court decision.
The current status of the planning materials and future activities will be presented on July 1 at the Häädemeeste Society House. July 2 at the Surju Community Center and July 3 at the Pärnu State House. All meetings start at 17 p.m.
"All interested parties are welcome to participate, and in the near future we will also send an invitation to participate to all landowners who are directly involved in the Rail Baltic plan, as well as to those people who have indicated that they would like to receive information about the plan," said Kautlenbach.
"The public display and discussion of the planning materials will take place when additional approvals are in place and the regional minister has accepted the plan. Then all people interested in the plan can view the materials and express their opinions on them. This is expected to take place in the third quarter of this year. The public display and public discussions will be announced separately," added Kautlenbach.
Additional information about the route selected for the plan and its impacts can be found on the ministry's website. https://agri.ee/uudised/rail-balticu-parnumaa-trassi-planeering-kooskolastamiskups.
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