Samherja’s Laugum fish-drying permit revoked

Samherja’s permit to operate a fish-drying facility at Laugum in Reykjadalur has been revoked, creating uncertainty for a business employing about 20 people, mbl.is reports.

The facility has long been the subject of complaints from nearby residents about odours and noise. Samherji has responded by carrying out improvements to its pollution-control equipment.

The Environmental and Natural Resources Appeals Committee overturned a decision by the Northeastern Iceland Health Committee to issue a permit on June 3 for the hot-air drying of fish products at Laugum.

The appeals committee said the health committee had not based its assessment on sufficient data concerning the condition of five bodies of water near the facility.

Samherji said the ruling did not concern violations of its permit or shortcomings in the operation itself. The company said its operations had complied with the permit and referred to measurements taken in the Reykjadalsá river in August, which showed the river to be in very good condition and found no pollution from the plant.

“The ruling does not concern shortcomings in the operation as such or violations of the issued permit, but differing interpretations among public institutions of the information requirements for government databases,” Samherji said in a statement.

The company also said it had carried out extensive and costly improvements last year in response to increased pollution-control requirements. It is now preparing its response to the ruling, with the aim of allowing the operation to continue.

Þingeyjarsveit municipality said the ruling created uncertainty about the future of the fish-drying facility, including because of its effects on a sensitive environment and water protection. The municipality stressed the company’s importance to employment in the region.

About 20 people work at the facility, which is also the largest buyer of hot water from the Reykjadalur Heating Utility, according to the municipality.

“Behind the company are people and families who have built their livelihoods and future on being able to operate a business here,” Katrín Sigurjónsdóttir, Þingeyjarsveit’s municipal manager, said in a statement on the municipality’s website.

The municipality said it was now focusing on finding a solution. Samherji described the immediate revocation of the permit as highly burdensome and said it was working on measures aimed at keeping the operation running.