Public meetings

Since the beginning of the aluminum project a number of public meetings have been held. Some public meetings have been concerning general information about the project while others have concerned the ongoing environmental assessments.

As part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) there must in the ongoing development of the project be an involvement of the public at certain times. This is in order to inform about the assessments and the process and at the same time give the public the possibility of asking questions and contribute with point of views for the work around the EIA. The involvement of the public is a crucial part of the process. 

Public meeting in Maniitsoq, January '09 (Photo: Greenland Development)

The first public meeting concerning the EIA was held in January 2009. These meetings were held in Sisimiut, Maniitsoq and Nuuk. This was in connection with the draft plan for the baseline studies being published and submitted for public hearing. In these public meetings the plan for the baseline studies was presented and it was possible to talk to the different scientists that work with the assessments. This was in order to give greater insight of the work but also to a contribution from the public to the scientists as how and where to conduct the baseline studies.

The questions and conversations that the citizens contribute with have been a part of the development of the final draft for the baseline studies and are written in the so-called Terms of Reference.

In January 2010 public meetings were held after finishing of the baseline studies. Besides Sisimiut, Maniitsoq and Nuuk meetings were also held in Kangerlussuaq. The main results were presented and shown on a number of posters which you may download at the bottom of the page.  

Public meeting in Maniitsoq, January 2010 (Photo: Greenland Development)
 

Further public meetings will be held when the coming impact assessment is ready. The assessment can only be done after the baseline studies have been finished and the technical design for the project is completely settled. When the impact assessment is finished a draft for the complete EIA will be submitted for public hearing and it will be presented on public meetings. The EIA will not be handed over to the authorities for approval until after the public hearing.

Material from public meetings in 2010 (only available in Greenlandic and English)

Material from public meetings in 2009 (only available in Greenlandic and English)

You may find additional posters from the public meetings on the homepage of ERM:

http://www.erm.com/alcoagreenland

Environmental Resources Management (ERM) is the international consulting firm that has the overall responsibility for conducting the EIA for the project.