Environmental groups to press charges against farms operating without nitrogen permits
Environmental organizations Mobilization for the Environment (MOB) and Vereniging Leefmilieu (Association for the Environment) announced on Tuesday that they are initiating a new series of ten weekly legal proceedings against farms operating without a valid nitrogen permit (PAS), according to NOS. The first ten cases will be initiated this week. Limburg farms will be examined first.
MOB and Vereniging Leefmilieu reportedly aim to compel provinces, if necessary, through the courts, to intervene in livestock farms and other companies that require a nature permit for nitrogen emissions but do not possess one. The organizations are urging the provincial government to address the illegal situation, which may require farmers to dispose of their livestock.
MOB and Vereniging Leefmilieu will also request that provincial governments revoke permits for large stables and companies that cause relatively high nitrogen deposition within protected nature reserves.
Kars de Graaf, professor of administrative law and sustainability at the University of Groningen, told NOS that recently, court rulings have repeatedly stated that it is "necessary to take more concrete and effective measures to limit nitrogen deposition on protected nature reserves" due to "the statutory requirements and the state of the protected nature."
"If there is simply not enough done in this area, it is understandable that environmental organizations want to force the provinces to take action and do not shy away from going to court," De Graaf told NOS. "This could potentially harm livestock farms."
Provincial governments are reportedly finding it increasingly challenging to support their requests to revoke permits. In Brabant, several lawsuits have already been filed against peak polluters after the provincial government refused to revoke valid permits from livestock farms that were identified as such.
Johan Vollenbroek of MOB says that a "leniency arrangement" for PAS is negotiable, but only in combination with a "real solution to the nitrogen problem." "We are open to consultation with anyone who seriously wants to solve the nitrogen problem," he told NOS.
