Ecology, Energy, Estonia, Port, Transport

The ecologist Vladimir Mirotvortsev said that increased monitoring was necessary due to growth at the port, which is constantly adding new production facilities and terminals, making the current system of testing inadequate. Currently checks are carried out every five years in places where hazardous substances are used, informs LETA.

The city's call to action comes after the results of the most recent check came last week. The report showed that levels of pollutants had remained below set norms, but that the hourly and daily concentrations of ammonia were approaching the limit, Sillamäe Gazeta reported.

The issue of constant monitoring arose when residents began to notice strange odors in the air, said Mirotvortsev.

"Companies, of course, carried out single tests, the results of which showed that the emissions did not exceed the norms. But the smell was noticed, and therefore we had a basis to demand that the port carry out the decision of the Ministry of Environment regarding setting up a system of constant monitoring,” he said.

In the ecologist's view, the port must have two permanent monitoring stations, so that dispatchers would have time to warn the terminals that emissions are approaching their limits.

The city's proposal currently has the support of the regional office of the Department of Environment.