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The presented project has two parts. The first one is called Development of regional democracy and relates
to participation of our association in administrative proceedings (concerning the interests of protection of nature
and countryside). The second part of the project called Legal project Temelín was focused on participation of our
association in one of many administrative proceedings concerning Temelín Nuclear Power Plant. (The auxiliary
building - changes in the area of generation, treatment and storing of radioactive waste at Temelín NPP) which is
currently subject to assessment in EIA process. The auxiliary building in this process is being assessed on the
basis of decision of High Court in Prague of 1999. This court process was initiated by the Association South
Bohemian Mothers and it was the final stage of our three-year effort in this case.
Summary of the project:
As part of the project Participation in administrative proceedings, we participated in
approx. 80 administrative proceedings. In some cases we succeeded to stop very problematic projects or at least
to mitigate their adverse impact on the environment. We think that even in cases where we have not been successful,
the time and energy were not wasted because this work has mostly educational importance. The authorities are getting
used to the fact that public has the right to participate in all these proceedings as legitimate participant and
that their decision-making will be subject to public check. If the interest of non-governmental organisations in
functioning of state administration continues and grows stronger, it will, after some time, lead to gradual
cultivation of professional ethic of clerks and to more extensive respecting of laws and civil rights.
As part of the Legal project Temelín, the Association South Bohemian Mothers succeeded during 3 years
to put through discussion of changes of construction under law no. 244/92 Coll. regarding assessment of impacts
on the environment for such a controversial project such as the Nuclear Power Plant Temelín (specifically for
one the important technological centres - auxiliary building). Although this law is one of a few laws which are
written in correspondence with the EU legislation, it was very problematic to force the relevant bodies of state
administration to adhere to it. The Association had to file an action at the High Court in Prague and on the basis
of positive standpoint of this court, the law was adhered to. However, from the point of view of adherence to law,
this is a very sad event because the laws in the Czech Republic should be adhered to automatically, not only after
an action had been filed at the court. In this direction, the Association has done a lot of work. One of the rewards
is the fact that other changes at the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant will be discussed in the EIA process under law
no. 244/92 Coll. in the coming months.
The judgement of the High Court resulted in the fact that for the first time, it was possible for the Czech
public to comment on the impacts of Temelín NPP on the environment.
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