GIOŚ about the closure of Toru Poznań: "actions resulting from laws and many complaints of residents"

The decision was announced on Tuesday.

According to the decision of the Chief Inspector of Environmental Protection, Tor Poznań - the only facility in Poland approved to global events was closed on Tuesday. The reason for this decision was a sound exceeding the permissible standards.

The Chief Environmental Protection Officer referred to the case on Wednesday. This is the full text of the Communication:

"The case proceedings were conducted in consequence to many complaints from local residents, who for many years pointed to nuisances associated with over-normative noise. The protection of the wellness and comfort of the lives of residents constitutes an crucial social interest in specified matters, which the environmental inspection bodies are obliged to take into account.

It should be made clear that both the Chief Inspector of Environmental Protection and the Provincial Inspector of Environmental Protection are bound by the administrative decisions in force by the competent authorities. In this case, the 2005 decision of the president of the City of Poznań, which sets the permissible sound levels for Toru Poznań, is crucial. The Environmental Protection Inspectorate does not set these standards - its function is only to verify whether they are being kept.
Land management issues around the track, including land usage and building permits, stay the work of local authorities. The Environmental Protection Inspection has no impact on these processes.

In the course of the procedure, the authority allowed the track operator to take method action to reduce sound emissions, in peculiar by building and modernising acoustic screens. Additional time limits were set for the removal of infringements. Despite these actions and the passage of time, it has not been demonstrated that acceptable sound standards have been maintained permanently.

In accordance with the applicable provisions of the Environmental Law, in the event of non-removal of infringements within the prescribed time limit, the inspection body is required to suspend the usage of the installation. In this situation, the environmental inspection bodies were not able to take a different decision.

The decision is not of a discretionary nature, but is straight based on the applicable legal and factual provisions. At the same time, the rules supply for the anticipation to resume the operation of the track in the event of an effective removal of the causes of the infringements and confirmation by appropriate measurements."