The Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group (UNCG) must ask: How else can we explain the actions of the State Environmental Inspectorate (SEI) in the Zakarpattia region?
After completing an inspection of one of the two companies carrying out construction on the Runa Polonyna (a unique, high-altitude Carpathian meadow), the environmental inspectors are now refusing to provide the public with the official inspection report.
They fabricated an excuse, claiming they need to gather “additional information” and will therefore only provide a response in 20 days.
Yet, according to Ukrainian legislation, this Act of Inspection must be signed on the last day of the inspection – meaning it has long been in the possession of the Eco-Inspectors.
Why are they refusing to release it? Could it be because they “saw no violations,” despite the clear position of the relevant central ministry (Min dovkillia)? The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources has explicitly stated that the construction of wind farm foundations on Runa Polonyna cannot proceed without a mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
A Call for Transparency
The works destroying the Runa Polonyna are taking place right now. We demand an explanation from the leadership of the central apparatus of the State Environmental Inspectorate – Acting Head Ihor Zubovych and his First Deputy Dmytro Zaruba.
Not long ago, at a field meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Environmental Policy in Zakarpattia, you asserted that the Eco-Inspectorate was “more open than ever” to the public.
Where is this transparency now if you are concealing official documents that constitute public information?
