Keskkonnaamet publishes this announcement under Subsection 2 of § 30 of the Earth's Crust Act (MaaPS).
 
Keskkonnaamet announces, that OÜ MERKO KAEVANDUSED (registry code: 14872152) (address Järvevana tee 9g, Kesklinna linnaosa, Tallinn, Harju maakond, 11314)the application submitted by the party for the authorisation of the T-L.MU/1023150 geological exploration permit (hereinafter exploration permit) in excavation room VIII of the Poolvahe (registered in the Environmental Decisions information System EAGLE 11.03.2024 as document No DM-127736-1, corrected application 27.03.2024 as document No DM-127736-4) has been processed. The requested research room is located in Vikipalu village, Anija Parish, Harju County on state-owned property Kolga metskond 81 (cadastral code 14101:001:1037). The administrator of the state assets of a given cadastral unit is the Ministry of Climate Affairs and the State Forest Management Centre is an agency authorised by the state assets. The area of service of the research room applied for is 12.03 ha. In the course of geological exploration, it is planned to construct up to 14 excavation wells and up to 14 excavation wells with a maximum exploration depth of 10 m. the period of validity of the permit applied for is three (3) years. The mineral resource under investigation is sand. Geological exploration shall be carried out in accordance with the requirements established in Regulation No 52 of the Minister of the Environment of 17.12.2018. (“Procedure and requirements for geological exploration of geological exploration of geological resources and requirements for registration as mineral resources of phosphoride, metal raw materials, oil shale, foundation stone, lake lime, lake mud, sea mud, gravel, sand, limestone, dolostone, clay and peat properties”). The thickness of the useful layer shall be determined at the planned study points, the sediments of the mineral resource and its lying surface shall be described. Throughout the useful layer, samples shall be taken by litological specimen for laboratory determinations. The water level at the wells shall be measured. A topographical plan shall be drawn up for the site on the basis of an instrument survey. In the course of the cameral work, the resulting data set (incl. laboratory results) is analysed and a report is prepared for recording the stock in the mineral resources register. In the course of a geological survey, cutting may be necessary to a limited extent, in particular with regard to the movement of machinery in a forested area. All cutting activities carried out in the research area shall be coordinated with the land owner. There is no overlap in the service area of the requested exploration area with the mineral reserves on the account in the mineral resources register. To the east of the service area of the requested exploration area ~ 25.6 m is the Poolvahe sand deposit (register card of mineral resources register No 815), Poolvahe sand quarry II (extraction permit No HARM-102; permits holder OÜ MERKO MINES; valid until 03.09.2039) mining allocation and the half-gap mine ALLOCATION of sand quarry II (permit applicant OÜ MERKO MINES) pending before the Environmental Board. The eastern edge of the service area of the requested exploration area is at times directly adjacent to the service areas of the existing and applied semi-gap II sand quarry mining reserves. The service area of the requested exploration area fully overlaps with the limitation zone of the Soodla exercise area of the national defence construction work. The closest individual households remain west of the study room. 450 m to the west is the Purora field property (cadastral code 14001:002:2300) and 600 m to the Rebase, Piibelehe and Üleoja properties (cadastral characteristics 14001:002:2670, 14001:002:283 and 14001:002:2160). The nearest densely populated area is the village of Raudoja, which is approximately 1.5 km northwest of the study area from the bird flight. The Environmental Board and the chief processor of the mineral resources register the Maa-amet verified the compliance of an application for an exploration permit with the requirements provided for in the Earth's Crust Act and the Environmental impact assessment and Environmental Management System Act. The application complied with the requirements. On the basis of subsection 30 (2) of the Earth's Crust Act, the Environmental Board shall publish a notice concerning the acceptance of an application for an exploration permit for processing in the official publication Official Announcements (www.ametlikudteadaanded.ee). The Environmental Board shall notify the official publication Official Announcements of the preparation of the draft permit for geological exploration and the disclosure thereof. The draft is also sent to the local government and the applicant for the permit for examination and submission of proposals.

Application for a permit for a geological examination and other relevant documents can be consulted at https://kotkas.envir.ee/menetlus/M-127736. Digital documents are available at https://kotkas.envir.ee/dokument/DM-127736-4.
 
Until the #tk_menetluse_liik# decision is taken, everyone hase the right to submit reasoned proposals and objections to the To the Environmental Board.  Proposals and objections may be submitted orally or in writing to the e-mail address info@keskkonnaamet.ee or the postal aadress Roheline 64, 80010 Pärnu.
 
Keskkonnaamet will additionally announce the completion of the Permit for geological exploration draft in the official publication Official Announcements.