Archive 2019
BS at VNG conference
On Saturday, November 2, Jouw Stellingwarfs went to the VNG conference in Assen.
The following issues were central to this conference:
- Social Domain Monitor
- Political role of the Council
- Youth Services
- Land matters
-Municipal finances
- Environmental code
- Citizen participation
- Energy transition.
The municipality is going to tackle the cycle path after all
The municipality will tackle the cycle path between the Blesse and Noordwolde in the autumn, we have been promised.
BS helps scouting with setting up the Lindefestifal
Stay Stellingwarfs asks questions to the council
Stay Stellingwarfs asks questions to the council about the closure of De Linde, with financial consequences, among other things)
(Photo by: P. Smid)
(Photo by: P. Smid)
Stay Stellingwarfs and enjoy the Nijetrijne opera!
BS asks council about enforcement request
Dear municipal council and municipal council members
To: the Municipal Executive of Weststellingwerf and the Municipal Council
Date: August 5, 2019
Subject: Background information about gas extraction in Noordwolde and wastewater dumping in Nijensleek following actions by Milieudefensie Westerveld, partly based on information from a villager from Vinkega and residents from Noordwolde and Zandhuizen
The following has been announced:
Attached is an anonymous letter from the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and 2 press releases from Milieudefensie regarding gas extraction in Weststellingwerf and Nijensleek. The effect of this action taken by Milieudefensie will contribute to realizing the unanimous motion of March 4, 2019 against further expansion of existing and against new gas extraction in Weststellingwerf. Finally, I have a question about the consequences of all this on the pending applications for gas extraction in our municipality of EZK/Vermilion and about the existing permits.
The reporting about this:
About shutting down the proposed deep drilling (test drilling) in Noordwolde. Despite negative advice from the Municipality and the Province, EZK is allowing its producer Vermilion to continue drilling a new well in Noordwolde from the remains of an old well cellar to a new gas field (under the Hoeve). Irresponsible, because it is against the agreement with Minister Wiebes and insufficient research has been conducted, including:
-the cause of the earthquake in the Hoeve measuring 2.8 on the Richter scale in November 2009. At that time, no gas extraction took place in this area, but a large amount of polluted wastewater was dumped by Vermilion in Noordwolde.
-the environmental consequences of dumping contaminated wastewater (90,000,000 liters during the period 2007-2012, of which only 5,000,000 liters were reported in Nlog.nl)
-the environmental effects on the Natura 2000 area (including nitrogen emissions).
-the effects of extending the deep drilling (exploratory drilling) from 2 to 3 months to 8 months.
Milieudefensie Westerveld has submitted an enforcement request to the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV), partly based on information from a villager from Vinkega and residents from Noordwolde and Zandhuizen. This has resulted in Vermilion receiving a formal warning for violating the law. Vermilion immediately ceased its activities to avoid a fine and penalty (see attachment, letter dated August 1, 2019 from the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality).
About the situation in Nijensleek, where dumping of contaminated wastewater in Noordwolde has been carried out since 2013 (48,000,000 litres). There is a repair of a broken pipe in the injection system that was reported as regular maintenance without the research results becoming available about the consequences for the soil (e.g. leakage). This information is available from SodM, but Vermilion may not make it public. Vermilion refuses to provide that information and has even filed a lawsuit against the State Supervision of Mines (SodM) about this. SSM is now going to the highest administrative court, the Council of State, to make this information available to Milieudefensie. It is expected that such a study will also take place into the effects of contaminated wastewater in Noordwolde.
My questions:
a. What is your reaction to this.
b. what has the council done about this? . How was this dealt with? If the answer were: Nothing then why not?
c. and what does this mean for the gas extraction activities of EZK/Vermilion in/near the other location in Weststellingwerf where similar situations could arise? Please assess each extraction well and inform us.
Yours sincerely,
Stay Stellingwarfs
Motion Staystellingwarfs regarding gas extraction
In order to obtain a solid policy, Jouw Stellingwarfs withdrew the motion after the councilor made important commitments. As a result, the council proposal was unanimously adopted.
Staytelling wars at VNG annual conference.
The General Members' Meeting of the VNG has approved proposals from the board to continue to focus on a structural solution to the shortages in the social domain. The VNG will continue discussions with the cabinet in the coming months.
Negotiations with the cabinet resulted in a temporary solution of €1,020 million for the years 2019-2021. This gives municipalities some breathing space for these years. The VNG will continue to discuss with the cabinet in the coming months about measures that both the government and municipalities can take to make the system function better and gain more control over volume and expenditure developments.
For more information see: https://vng.nl/vng-jaarcongres-2019
Stay count wars on commemoration of death May 4
Remaining warfs at Noordwolde gas extraction information evening
Motion Staystellingwarfs regarding gas extraction
Stay Stellingwarfs argued in the Council meeting of March 4 for research into the risks of the current gas fields in Weststlingwerf. Fortunately, that task now lies with the Municipality and it will happen. It is not without reason that we have received letters from Vermilion for architectural surveys. The other parties only wanted future drilling. Fortunately, they have realized that the current gas wells could pose an immediate danger.
Commission must investigate gas extraction
The Stay Stellingwarfs faction wants to set up a small investigative committee that will investigate gas extraction plans.
According to Stay Stellingwarfs, the investigation committee, which should consist of 3 to 5 council members, must investigate, among other things, what information the municipal council needs in order to issue a declaration of no reservations for the Rottum/Nijeholtwolde gas extraction plan.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC
Architectural recordings around the Sonnega gas field
Municipality: natural gas extraction policy remains unchanged for the time being
Gas extraction in Noordwolde cannot be stopped
Future requests
The committee must also find answers to the question of how the municipality should deal with future applications for gas extraction with a view to guaranteeing safety, compensation and other consequences of gas extraction.
The committee should also investigate and monitor whether and to what extent Vermilion complies with the maximum permitted production extraction at the 6 existing extraction locations. This should result in a good picture of the safety of gas extraction.
Riskier situation
Stay Stellingwarfs fears that the maximum quantities of extraction plans and environmental permits will be exceeded by Vermilion, which poses an additional risk in the form of greater subsidence and/or a greater chance of ground vibrations. Group chairman Ton Mulder: 'In practice, all this leads to a more risky situation than was predicted in the consent decrees and extraction plans. The question is whether the municipality of Weststellingwerf can still responsibly exercise its duty of care to its residents.'
Clarity about reliability
The committee may request assistance from experts. The committee reports its findings to the council and the municipal council and is dissolved after the report. Mulder: 'It is very important that we obtain clarity about the reliability and implementation of the agreements made and recorded in the permits and/or about Vermilion's extraction plans in Weststellingwerf.' The committee can be formed at the next committee-council meeting (in March).
Until 2018, the municipal council often collaborated on and put new extraction locations into operation. Since last year there has been a change on this subject. A critical attitude is increasingly emerging in which expansion of gas extraction in the municipality is no longer simply accepted.
Stay Stellingwarfs calls for 'gas committee'
How much gas is extracted from the existing wells on Weststellingwerf territory? And to what extent does this correspond to the quantities permitted under the permits? At the council meeting at the end of this month, opposition party Stay Stellingwarfs is calling for a "small investigation committee", including several council members, that will find answers to these questions. Important, says councilor Ton Mulder, "because we can base our position on new extraction requests on this basis."
Contact details
Willem Lodewijkstraat, 28 8471 BJ, Wolvega
Phone: 0561-615579 (Ton)
Mobile: 06-46388137
Chamber of Commerce: 69348871
Bank: NL11INGB0007993883
RSIN:857841415
