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Boston, MA
June 3, 2008
Fennovoima Ltd
Salmisaarenaukio 1
FI-00180 Helsinki
Subject:
Open letter to Fennovoima's CEO and Board of Directors
Dear Mr. Saarenpää and Members of the Board:
I am writing to you concerning Fennovoima's plans to build a nuclear power
plant in Kristinestad. I am asking you to abandon these plans.
I looked at Fennovoima’s website and noticed the April 30, 2008
press release announcing that you have been able to acquire land for this
purpose in Sideby/Skaftung. However, in newspaper articles, I have seen
two different maps of the area that you have considering. The first is
a map of the irregularly shaped parcel of land that you have acquired,
while the second map shows the proposed location of the power plant. There
is very little overlap between the two maps. My questions are: (1) Why
are you not limiting the construction to the land that you actually own,
and (2) How do you intend to get the land that you are actually planning
to use? It is my understanding that the local residents are very much
against this project and are refusing to sell their land to you in spite
of the fact that you are offering astronomical amounts of money for the
land.
Your website makes the following statement:
“Fennovoima has been aware of Kristinestad's wish that Fennovoima
obtains land before the city starts its land planning. The land obtained
now is sufficient for building a power plant and therefore the land planning
in cooperation with the city can be started.”
This begs the question: Was the purpose of acquiring land simply to get
the planning process re-started? Or did you actually intend to place the
power plant in the site that you purchased? If so, why did the power plant
end up in the wrong location? The city had apparently already voted against
your propsal but is now re-opening the case even though you do not own
the land that you are proposing to use. Fair-minded people find this insulting.
But in war and nuclear power, everything is allowed?
It is apparent from newspaper accounts that many residents find your business
practices despicable and would under no circumstances welcome you as a
neighbor. The resistance is only expected to grow as the residents are
exposed to more and more misrepresentations from your company. I have
read your statement ”we will only come if we are welcome”.
Given this, it surprises me that you continue to pursue Kristinestad as
an option. Holding you to your word, my recommendation would be that you
leave the region immediately since you are clearly not welcome here. It
is time to leave the residents alone and put an end to this sad and unfortunate
episode in the area’s history.
It is well-known that the proposed site borders two large Natura 2000
areas and other protected nature preserves. Moreover, ”Flygekorre”
appears to be residing on the land that you are planning to use. Is this
of any concern to you? Or will you just push ahead and overlook these
inconveninet facts? My guess is that EU would consider the placement of
a nuclear power plant in this area an infringement of the Natura 2000
preservation directives and would not approve of this. Personally, I do
not doubt what so ever that the issue would be brought to Bryssles, should
Fennovoima decide to move forward with its plans.
The highly radioactive and very dangerous nuclear waste material is another
area of concern. Your plans to deal with this issue have not been revealed.
Your Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report stated that Posiva would
take care of the waste. However, this claim was rejected by Posiva in
a letter submitted to TEM in early April. What are your real plans? Also,
how long would the waste remain in the area, and what would happen to
the nuclear power plant itself once it is no longer in operation? Will
you take the plant down or will it be left standing for hundreds of years
perhaps as a gift to future generations of residents? I am sure that you
are aware of the fact that the plant itself becomes nuclear waste and
is extremely difficult and costly to remove.
Finally, it is evident that your presence in this area is inflicting great
pain and suffering on the local residents who do not want to give up their
beautiful towns for this purpose. Do you have any plans to compensate
the residents for their suffering? Also, how do you plan to compensate
residents for lowering the values of their properties, should the power
plant be built? Your representatives in the region say that no one will
have to move because of this. Yes, sure! But who wants to live near a
nuclear power plant? The many summer residents come here during their
vacations to enjoy nature, to watch the wild life and to listen to the
birds. But certainly not to listen to the roar of cooling water travel
in and out under or near their properties, killing fish and polluting
the waters in the process.
I beg you to listen to the residents’ pleas and abandon your plans
to build a nuclear power plant in Sideby/Skaftung.
Sincerely,
Greta M. Ljung, Pol.Mag., Ph.D.
Boston, USA
(With close family in Skaftung)
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