Noise from Turów mine did not exceed health limits in Czechia in October measurements

Noise from Poland's Turów lignite mine once again did not exceed health limits in Czechia during the latest measurements. The fifth measurement this year, conducted in the first half of October, confirmed the significant reduction in noise exposure already shown by the previous measurements in September. Filip Trdla, spokesperson for the Liberec Region, informed CTK of the monitoring results today. In the past, measurements had always detected some exceedance of the World Health Organization's recommended nighttime health limit of 40 decibels (dB).

"The results of the fifth measurement this year confirmed that the set noise limits are not being exceeded during nighttime hours in the affected municipalities. I am pleased that the monitoring is continuing. It is crucial for us because it allows us to monitor, transparently and over the long term, the impact of mining at Turów on the quality of life of residents on the Czech side of the border," commented Jiří Klápště (Spolu), deputy regional governor for the environment.

Noise on the Czech side was measured by an accredited laboratory of the Ostrava-based Health Institute in the municipalities of Uhelná and Oldřichov na Hranicích, closest to the Polish mine. Measurements took place from 6 to 13 October, each day from 22:00 until 6:00 the following day. At the same time, the Polish side conducted parallel measurements at a technical site in Poland, which was included in the monitoring to better identify noise caused by the operation of Turów mine's extraction equipment and distinguish it from other noise.

The results of the fifth measurement this year, stated without taking into account measurement uncertainty (1.8 dB), show that the 40 dB limit was not exceeded. According to Trdla, the average acoustic pressure level for the period was 35.9 dB in Uhelná and 33.5 dB in Oldřichov na Hranicích. In Uhelná, noise was somewhat higher than in the previous measurement in September, while in Uhelná, by contrast, the instruments recorded a further decline. During the previous round in September, measurements were 34.2 dB in Uhelná and 35 dB in Oldřichov.

The Turów mine near the Czech-Polish border mainly supplies coal to the neighbouring power plant. The PGE Group, which owns both the mine and the power plant, plans to continue mining until 2044. It intends to gradually expand the mine to 30 square kilometres along the road from Zittau to Bogatynia. Residents on the Czech side are to be protected from noise and dust from the mine by an embankment planted with greenery. A groundwater barrier prevents water from flowing out of Czech territory. The reduction in noise is apparently the result of measures that Poland promised in July, but Czechia is demanding further measures from Poland to prevent groundwater outflows.

Monitoring of the impacts of mining on Czech territory is part of an agreement on addressing the effects of mining, signed by the prime ministers of Czechia and Poland in February 2022. Poland subsequently paid Czechia EUR 45 million (CZK 1.1 billion) in compensation for damage caused, of which EUR 35 million (CZK 849 million) went to the Liberec Region's "Turów Fund". However, according to Greenpeace, Bund Sachsen and the local Uhelná Neighbours Association, the negotiated agreement is weak and inadequate.