Sellata-Pierfaone construction site seized in Abriola: investigation into environmental crimes
Forestry carabinieri from Potenza have seized the construction site of the Sellata-Pierfaone ski resort development in Parco Nazionale dell'Appennino Lucano. The investigation is examining forgery, environmental pollution and breaches of landscape protection regulations.
Synthetic ski run 480 metres long in national park: seizure and investigation into environmental crimes
Forestry carabinieri from Potenza have seized the construction site where modernisation works are underway at the Sellata-Pierfaone ski resort in the municipality of Abriola, within Parco Nazionale dell'Appennino Lucano. The measure also affects the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Faggeta di Monte Pierfaone, a Natura 2000 network site and the principal European tool for protecting biodiversity. Il Fatto Quotidiano reported the development.
The seizure was ordered by the Public Prosecutor's Office in Potenza by decree issued on 27 August and filed on 29 August. According to the mayor of Abriola, Romano Triunfo, the blockage concerns "a stretch of just 500 metres, relating solely to the site of the new chairlift", while the rest of the work—extending over roughly three kilometres—continues. "Works are continuing," Triunfo stated, attributing the controversy to "scaremongering fed by environmental associations, politicians and part of the media".
The project and its costs
The plan involves the construction of a synthetic ski run 480 metres long—the longest in Italy—and a new chairlift that will connect the 1,350-metre altitude to 1,500 metres, where it connects to the existing chairlift up to 1,737 metres, the highest point of the ski area. The project is completed by a service building at the foot of the run, car parks, walking paths and new facilities. The estimated cost is 8 million euros, of which 6 million is financed through the Complementary Operational Programme of the European Regional Development Fund.
The seizure requires the immediate cessation of cutting and excavation operations, pending validation or rejection by the investigating judge.
The suspected offences
Among the alleged crimes is ideological forgery by inducement: the environmental impact assessment documentation submitted would not have indicated the felling of plant species, which was subsequently carried out on 81 specimens within the SAC Faggeta di Monte Pierfaone. Environmental pollution is also alleged for the felling of 809 tall trees, predominantly beech.
The list of alleged violations also includes breach of the Code of Cultural and Landscape Assets for carrying out works without prior landscape authorisation, violation of the protected areas legislation for construction of the new chairlift without clearance from the Park Authority on the executive project, destruction of natural beauty and violation of planning and building regulations for further works lacking the necessary authorisations.
Environmental group complaints and political requests
The measure came after Legambiente and WWF had reported "serious environmental and procedural shortcomings". The Five Star Movement in the regional assembly and the CGIL trade union in Potenza had in turn called for clarification on the economic sustainability of the project and its possible effects on employment.
"The seizure ordered by the Public Prosecutor's Office is an action that merits the utmost attention," declared Antonio Nicoletti, national head of protected areas at Legambiente, adding that the measure "confirms the need to rigorously verify the correctness of the authorisation process and the environmental impact of the project".
The council's response
Mayor Triunfo defended the administration's conduct, expressing "full solidarity" with the sole project manager, engineer Valentino Fellone. "The Municipality of Abriola has worked day and night operating in complete transparency and respecting every single regional requirement," he explained, emphasising the aim of completing works by 31 December to avoid losing the European funding.
Whilst Legambiente maintains the validity of the "serious shortcomings highlighted" and the municipal administration complains of "ideological alarmism", the Public Prosecutor's Office in Potenza continues its investigation into projects which the Basilicata Region describes as "a green and tourism revolution" for the area.
Source: Il Fatto Quotidiano - Cronaca