There is danger for the beauty of Repparfjord. Source: New Internationalist, Easier English Wiki, Helene Lind Jensen, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0
Before the decision from Hammerfest municipality whether Nussir ASA can continue the tunnel work, activists from Natur og Ungdom have set up a tent at the construction site.
We will be on standby in case Nussir gets a positive building permit from Hammerfest municipality. We are absolutely certain that they will start as soon as they possibly can.
This is said by Helene Sofie Smit, central board member of Natur og Ungdom (NU).
They have set up a tent and chained themselves to several machines on site.
It is really important for us that Nussir cannot continue any work on this tunnel. Because every shovelful is one shovelful closer to Repparfjorden being carpeted with mining sludge.
Temporary stop
Two weeks ago, Nussir ASA received an order from Hammerfest Municipality to stop work at the tunnel opening to the mine.
A notice of compulsory fine was also sent after an assessment by the Directorate for Mineral Management (DMF).
They consider that the access tunnel is not covered by the licensing decision. Then we will deal with it in the municipality. This means that we are responsible for following up on the matter according to the Planning and Building Act, said the mayor of Hammerfest municipality, Terje Rogde.
He was clear that this does not mean the end of mining activities in Repparfjord.
The Norwegian Sámi National Federation (NSR), NSR-Nourat, the Nature Conservation Association and Nature and Youth reported Nussir ASA to the police last week.
The background to the report was that the activists discovered that planning work was underway outside the mine three days after the Hammerfest municipality asked Nussir to immediately stop all work.
More activists in Repparfjord
Smit from NU confirms that there are now more activists in Repparfjorden than before.
Originally we only had one tent and a tent for equipment, now there are several tents. It’s almost like a small community here.
She is clear that NU will be campaigning against Nussir all summer.
We are absolutely clear that we will not leave until the work on the mine entrance is stopped.
Source: NRK
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