Greener airfield in Swiss mountains
09.10.2015
Mountain Wilderness Switzerland, Pro Natura Upper Wallis and Transport and Environment Association Valais succeeded in joint advocacy efforts for ensuring environmental compliance in airfield use in Wallis, Switzerland.
In Spring 2014, an application was submitted to the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) for the conversion of the former military airfield Münster-Geschinen, located in the mountains of Wallis in Switzerland into a civilian airfield.
The environmental groups - Mountain Wilderness, Pro Natura Upper Wallis and Transport and Environment Association Valais raised objections regarding the operating regulations, the risks of soils contamination and the noise pollution.
On 10 August 2015, the FOCA issued a regulation that was deemed satisfactory by the environmental groups. A strict limit of 3 000 aircraft movements per year is set and the landings are limited to the months of June, July and August. The soil contamination hazard by the runway of the airfield is improved and more stringent ecological compensation is to be made.
This agreement shows that a balance can be established between economic activity and environment protection.
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News by Mountain Wilderness Switzerland
Photo:Panoramic/ehrbar
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