Liberec - Companies are to pay more than CZK 2 million in total for stealing snow before the World Cup that took place in Liberec in February.
Fines from CZK 100,000 to 1.8 million have been awarded for taking snow out of Chráněná Krajinná Oblast Jizerské Hory (Preserved Landscape Area Jizera Mountains). All the three companies concerned lodged their appeals last week shortly before the end of a 15-day time limit. They disagree with the fines.
"All of the companies have appealed against our resolution. After letting the other parties know about the procedures, we will pass the appeal on to the Environment Ministry," said the head of the CHKO Jizerské hory Jiří Hušek.
Each company could receive a fine of up to CZK 2 million.
According to forest rangers, APB Plzeň has contributed the most to the damage on Jizera Mountain. It is one of the biggest Czech construction companies, which also specializes in bulk cargo transportation.
Machinery in action
The company's machinery has been used in construction of the Hyundai car factory in Nošovice, in the demolition of a landing runway in Žatec Airport, as well as in construction of the O2 Arena in Prague. It has also taken part in the construction of the Forum Shopping Mall in downtown Liberec.
APB Plzeň is obliged to pay CZK 1.8 million for stealing snow from so-called 2nd zone of the nature preserve. The company's diggers are said to have reduced the Jizerka village's land to a "moonscape", as well as another area near a road going from Jizerka to Polubný.
Rangers have fined Stavby silnic a železnic (Highway and Railroad Contructions) company CZK 250,000 for taking snow away from near the dam in the village of Josefův Důl.
"The Stavby lnic a železnic company took snow from the road surface only and has not caused much damage. We have decided on a moderate fine also because they withdrew after our notice," explained the head of the CHKO.
Both big companies keep silent
Although two of the fined companies belong to the biggest building corporations in the Czech Republic, their stances are unknown as they refuse to talk about the fines.
Aktuálně.cz's editorial office first contacted Stavby Silnic a Železnic and APB Plzeň already almost three weeks ago, i.e. at the time the CHKO announced the fines. However, none of the companies has reacted to questions e-mailed them by Aktuálně.cz, nor have the companies' officials answered our telephone calls.
Jizerská obecně prospěšná společnost (Jizerská non-profit organization) is the only of fined companies that is willing to talk about the illegal collection of snow.
"We are aware that we have made a mistake, still we will take the chance to appeal," said chairman of the company´s administrative board, Josef Ibehej.
Jizerská o.p.s. is to pay CZK 100,000 for using machinery to move snow down a preserved meadow in Jizerka camp.
Ibehej refuses to give details of the appeal, though. „We do not wish to popularize it. It is a sensitive matter, that is why we would rather wait for the outcome," said he. The company has put the damaged meadow back in order.
Ministry is to decide
The Environment Ministry may confirm, mitigate or even raise the amounts awarded. It may also conclude that the CHKO does not have enough evidence.
"If so, the case would turn back to us for further investigation. That means the ministry may not disclaim our resolution completely," remarked Jiří Hušek.
The contest in February was a preliminary exercise for the World Championship in downhill skiing, which is to be held in 2009. If the contest did not take place, the championship would be threatened.
Before the contest, trucks were sent for snow to Jizera Mountains by organizers of the World Cup in Vesec, headed by retired cross-country skier Kateřina Neumannová. There was no snow on the trails in the sports area near Liberec, so they tried to secure it at all costs.
Heavy trucks were shuttling between the muddy race-ground and snowy peaks of the Jizera Mountains in the span of a few nights. For the sake of the contest in Vesec, preserved meadows of Jizerka have been devastated and deep mudholes remain along forest roads.
