We believe that the Ministry of Climate and Environment’s approval of the permit is a clear violation of Norway’s Pollution Control Act, the EU water directive, and the EU Mining Waste Directive.

Norway is one of very few countries in the world that still allows dumping of mining waste in the sea. There are only two countries worldwide that allow new projects with dumping of mining waste in the sea, Norway and Papua New Guinea.

Key reasons Friends of the Earth Norway and Young Friends of the Earth Norway are suing the state:

• The mining company has received all important permits; there are no more administrative appeal options.
• The mining company has not sufficiently investigated how the project can be designed in a way that provides maximum waste minimization and avoids the need for submarine tailings disposal.
• The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Surveillance Authority has identified several shortcomings in the Norwegian implementation of the EU Mining Waste Directive.
• There are several indications that the submarine tailings disposal is unnecessary and thus illegal according to the Norwegian pollution act.
• Sufficient legal protection for nature depends on the courts hearing cases on questionable administrative decisions that have an impact on the environment.