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Romanian Protan Urges Court To Suspend Decision Halting Its Ops

The Bucharest court tried Tuesday the appeal filed by Romanian non-hazardous waste collector SC Protan SA against the decision of the Bucharest Regional Agency for Environmental Protection to suspend the company’s license for 30 days.
Romanian Protan Urges Court To Suspend Decision Halting Its Ops
25 nov. 2008, 13:32, English

The court is expected to decide on whether to suspend the decision of the environmental agency.

Protan officials said the document issued by the environmental agency should be suspended until the court reaches a verdict, given that the interruption of Protan’s operations seriously affects the activity of this public service. 
 
The company’s lawyer said that halting Protan’s activity would trigger infection outbreaks because there is no other company to neutralize animal waste.
 
In turn, the representative of the environmental agency pointed out that suspending the document would seriously affect the environment, adding Protan pollutes the Dambovita River. 
 
On October 2, the environmental agency informed SC Protan SA that several due investments were not unfolded, even though the company had requested the revision of the environment authorization, in accordance with article 25 of Government Emergency Ordinance 152/2005 approved through Law 84/2006.
 
Protan said it would halt operations in all eight branches countrywide as of November 17 to protest against non-payment of over EUR4 million owed subsidies. 
 
In turn, Romanian agriculture minister Dacian Ciolos said Protan would not halt its activity in all eight branches nationwide, as the company still has to observe its contract.
 
Ciolos also said the issue of subsidies will be solved by the end of the week, but the company is forced by the contract’s terms to continue its activity.
 
Protan’s general manager Cristina Miu said the Ministry of Agriculture owes Protan over EUR4 million. At the same time, the Justice Ministry threatened to freeze the company’s accounts over non-payment of taxes worth EUR1 million.
 
Romanian meat and milk processors said they would have to shut down plants unless Protan reconsiders its decision, because they will not be able to process related animal waste.