HELCOM to consider deletion of four Lithuanian cities from the list of the major Baltic Sea polluters

Helsinki, 27 May (HELCOM) - HELCOM Land-based Pollution Group (HELCOM LAND) will hold its regular meeting in Bonn 31 May - 2 June to discuss further actions to combat eutrophication and reduce pollution of hazardous substances in the Baltic Sea.

The Meeting is expected to consider the deletion of four Lithuanian cities from the HELCOM list of the Baltic Sea most significant pollution source Hot Spots. Among these Hot Spots are Lithuania’s biggest city and capital Vilnius, the third largest city Klaipeda, which is located on the Baltic Sea coast, as well as the two smaller municipalities of Marijampole and Alytus. All four cities have carried out vast modernisations of their wastewater treatment plants in recent years.

A list of the most significant pollution source Hot Spots around the Baltic Sea was first drawn up under the Baltic Sea Joint Comprehensive Environmental Action Programme (JCP) in 1992. Today, 89 Hot Spots or sub-Hot Spots remain on the list, following the deletion of 60 of the original 149 Hot Spots/sub-Hot Spots, the last 2 of which were deleted in 2004. Investment and remediation projects carried out at pollution Hot Spots around the Baltic Sea have contributed substantially towards overall pollution load reductions in the Baltic Sea catchment area.

The Meeting will discuss measures to reduce the input of hazardous substances, such as dioxins and mercury to the Baltic Sea. Among the proposals is a draft HELCOM Recommendation for the Baltic Sea countries on Best Environmental Practice to reduce emissions of dioxins from small scale combustion by spreading information and promoting the use of environmental friendly burning practices in households and small enterprises.

According to the agenda, the Meeting will consider the further development of the HELCOM project assessing the implications of different agricultural policy scenarios in the Baltic Sea countries on the changes in nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea. The final aim of the project is to enable the identification of cost-effective measures in the different parts of the Baltic Sea catchment area required to achieve good ecological status throughout the Baltic Sea area.

The Meeting will also consider scenarios to assess the changes in the amount of airborne nitrogen deposited into the Baltic Sea in order to be able give input from HELCOM to the review of existing air pollution reduction programmes under the EU NEC Directive and the Gothenburg Protocol.

HELCOM LAND will also discuss ways to assess loads coming from large animal plants and possible further measures in order to combat eutrophication from agriculture.

Contacts

HELCOM Secretariat

Mr Kaj Forsius
Professional Secretary
Tel: +358 9 62202221
Fax: +358 9 62202239

Mr Nikolay Vlasov
Information Secretary
Tel: +358 9 6220 2235
Fax: +358 9 6220 2239