Today on 11th October 2003 at 14:20 in front of the building of the city-hall of Malo Buchino, region Ovcha Kupel, Municipallity of Sofia a public consultation was carried out concerning the reconsidered EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) report of Ljulin motorway according to the EIA procedure article 17(1)6 from the EIA regulation.
Body responsible for the implementation: Roads Executive Agency (REA)
The discussion was conducted by Zhorzheta Mileva, a representative of the mayor of the village of Malo Buchino. At the meeting were engineer Denev - leader of the reconsidered EIA report, Siika Lazarova - REA, Ljubka Shtereva - European Union Programme, Eugenija Vassileva - REA and a representative of the Geographical Institute.
Zh. Mileva informed about the importance of that meeting and suggested the following agenda. Presentation of the reconsidered EIA report and expressing opinions, proposals and positions by the participants

Kolev - a citizen of the village of Malo Buchino: Does our opinion matter?
Eng. Denev: Your opinion is very important for making the final decision. In June the REA entrusted us to prepare a reconsidered EIA report for one variant of the route only - blue+brown. The report is made in accordance with regulation 4 that was valid at that time and it was payed a special attention on the so-called "zero alternative". A big amount of cars passing on the route is provided. The forecast for 2020 was developed according to specific methods.
Citizens: How many vehicles will pass?
Eng. Denev: 16394 cars, 522 buses, 3422 trucks... approximately 35 000 per day.
Cvetanka Pavlova from the village of Malo Buchino: From 6:20 to 7:10 133 automobiles passed through the village of Malo Buchino. What will happen after the construction of the motorway?
Stoyan Ivanov Ljulin Initiative Committee (IC):
1. Are the decisions of the Supreme Environmental Expert Council (SEEC) mandatory? Because in paragraph 21 it is said "It should be provided the creation of an organization that will divert the traffic during the permanent temperature inversions"
2. In the report of the SEEC was written that the motorway should be moved away in Western direction but it hasn't been done. Why?
Eng. Denev: It hasn't been written
St. Ivanov - While the Urban Plan was passing it was said that the route hasn't been specified yet. In the reconsidered report was written that the route has been specified in the Urban Plan of the city of Sofia. When do you say the truth?
Eng. Denev - In both cases. The meeting with the mayor of the village of Malo Buchino and professor Lentchev wasn't carried out because the route was approved, and the pickets were pinned. Any further intervention is impossible, but I want to make a compromise - this is a Patproekt's project. Insignificant changes has been made to the project.
Woman from the quarter of Suhodol: Who is the environmentalist here? Let him tell us how the motorway will destroy the nature. The route of the motorway which is part of the Trans European Corridor is the road Pernik - Voluiak.
Krum Krumov - Two years ago you came here and proposed only two variants - the blue one and the brown one. Now you are proposing to us a combination between the blue and the brown variants. Everyone comes here to tell what he was ordered to. Who is against this route! Let's vote! The presents supported the statement and voted against the proposed variant.
Eng. Denev - I don't have doubts about the correctness of the report and if anybody thinks that there will be an apocalyptic situation let's prove it. The presents hissed and hooted their disapproval.
Prof. Lentchev: I remind you to behave yourselves, because at the meeting of the Supreme Environmental Expert Council we were told that on the previous public consultations there were drunk people. Prof. Lentchev read the statement from the IC of the Malo Buchino village to the Ministry of Environment and Waters and to EC's DG Environment. He also introduced the presents to the appeal "Let's save Bankja" signed by professors, academicians, scientists. (Attachment 3)
All the people voted against the construction of the motorway in this proposed variant. A representative of the Geographical Institute:
I understand your problem. This is a piece of paradise. With the construction of the motorway it will get worse but air pollution won't be dangerous for the people. According to the European standards there won't be any exceed. You don't have to accent on the EIA but to address to the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW). They specified the route. We didn't take part in the previous EIA.
A citizen: There are 3 protected areas in Europe - Lyon, Karlowi Wari and Bankja. What do you do to save the unique climate of Bankja and its protected area B.
Ivan Rantchev:
Whom that motorway will serve at? - He read a statement which we include. (Attachment 4) All the people voted for the statement to be accepted.
Eng. Denev: Prof. Lentchev frightens people with smog. He manipulates you and the professors undersigned the appeal frighten you also. The concentrations could not exceed 25%. The temperature inversions are typical for the whole Sofian field. It doesn't form smog in Sofia.
Nikolai Kolev:
We waste our time. They protect private interests. Let's swear that there won't be a motorway here! Everybody voted unanimously.
Eng. Denev: The project must proceed after the approval of EIA report by the MOEW.
Alexander Iolev (candidate for mayor of Sofia) - This a chat room. Has the variant of the motorway westward the Ljulin mountain been surveyed? I have a proposal: let's survey the route westward the Ljulin mountain because Sofia will be endangered in the future.
Andrey Kovatchev (Balkani Wildlife Society) - In the "Air" part, the photo chemical smog is not discussed. What is your opinion? Аscertainments: when the route was allocated there was not an EIA procedure but the European Commission wants public consultations. You just move to a political decision.
Siika Lazarova (REA) - made the inhabitants aware how it happenned that only two variants have been considered. She responded to Professor Lenchev that the "green" variant has been considered by the SEEC in the MOEW.
Kolev - Let us vote against the "blue+brown" variant. Again everybody voted against.
Siika Lazarova (REA) - The previous law did not required public consultations. Petko Kovatchev (Center for Environmental Education and Information)- Why are you running away from the theme for a revised report? On 17th July 2003 a letter was received by the REA according to which a new procedure is opening and a process of public consultations starts on the envelopment and the contents of the EIA. It became clear that they do not call us to revise all the alternatives for the route. This revised report cannot be called revised. It is predetermined.
Andrey Kovatchev - Have public consultations been conducted on all the alternatives? Yes or no?
Petko Kovatchev - Why should have? They just mocked at the people.
Eng. Denev - It is your right this variant not to happen
Andrey Kovatchev - The decision for the route taken by the National Expert Council for Territory Development is illegal because it is made before an EIA decision exists and thus, the impact upon environment is completely disregarded as a determinant factor. The authorities do not have the right to preliminary allocate the route before the EIA procedure. For good or bad, the resort zone is already polluted enough as pollutions come from the town, from Kremikovtsi and the other industrial enterprises. Nowhere in the EIA report the authors make assessment of the cumulative impact caused by the pollution of the construction of the Trans-European Corridor. There are no clearly stated environmental goals anywhere in the Assessment. For years the local people have insisted on that issue both in written statements and speeches, but nobody has paid any attention to them. That is why, I propose everybody here unanimously to support the following main environmental principles and goals in the management of this territory - not to create any other sources of pollution in the resort zone that will lead to deterioration of the environment.
Proposal: Let us vote against any new polluters in the region.
The proposal was accepted.
Arch. Borisov (Sofia Council Municipality) - I am for the Ljulin Motorway but I am against route's predetermination. The motorway is important not only for Pernik - Sofia, but also for the whole region. I propose that the project is reconsidered in Sofia Municipality and the facts that influenced the allocation of this route - taken into account. I can appraise that it is not good to miss 111 millions BGN, but I am not convinced that this variant is the best one.
Arch. Tadarykov - Do not use the situation to incite citizens against each other. This desire to kill the Ljulin Mountain is a crime. This route does not serve anybody. The people from the district of Knjazhevo are interested in diverting the traffic outside their neighbourhood and in considering other alternatives.
A citizen woman - Which European capital there is a Trans-European Corridor passing through. There are no such. All of them are outside the capitals. Has the fact that the Sofia-city is here and the border of Sofia is just over there on the ridge of the Ljulin Mountain been considered? Has the problem with the mineral springs been concerned? An indicator has been dropped into a mineral spring in the North edge of the village and behind Kamen Rid and it was found in the town of Bankja. To what extend this Trans-European Corridor 4 will influence the "B" secured zone?
Eng. Kojcho Boyadzhiev - I have the last word where the motorway will pass. He presents part of his project and stresses on its priorities.
Tsvetanka Georgieva - A question to Kojcho Boyadzhiev - Will the route, which you propose, pollute the environment less? This route also goes through a captured mineral spring in Gorna Banja. We, the people from Suhodol, are all against this variant. We are against all the variants between Gorna Banja and Bankja. There must not be a transit European corridor between the district of Knjazhevo and the town of Bankja. Do not destroy what nature has given to us - and appealed that everybody votes against. Everybody voted unanimously.
Poltislav Vasilev, IC "Bankja" - The problem can be solved by constructing a "clover" by the town of Pernik so that the heavy-freight traffic passes West of the Ljulin Mountain and a local road is built here.
Evdokia Maneva, a former Minister of the environment and waters - The most important thing when you make an investment proposal, is to consider people's opinion. Everybody has to hear all the variants. All the variants has to be reconsidered, and the new ones too, if there are any. It will be good if all competent representatives of the sides concerned gather and together, not from village to village, discuss all the variants, so that the best one is chosen.
Zhaklin Metodieva, MOEW - I am an observer here.
Ass. Prof. Zhekov - I could argue about the technical parameters. SPEA would have invited me two years ago but they did not. The question is where should the motorway pass. If the motorway pass through this place, another road will have to be constructed, which will serve the Vladaja Gorge. I put my signature under my words. There are other alternatives. This one does not serve the capital. Mr Denev, is it correct to consider other variants?
Eng. Denev - Yes, other variants should be considered. But I think that there are deadlines for adoption of this money. This money will be lost, this road is indispensable.
Ass. Prof. Zhekov - Other alternatives has to be examined. The team and all the inhabitants also agreed on this proposal.
Citizens - We are here to say "NO" to this variant.

At 17h the meeting finished.

This statement is created in three copies: 3. For the REA 4. For the MOEW 5. For the Municipality of Malo Buchino

Attachments:
1. List of the people present
2. Letter to the MOEW with a copy to the European Commission - GD Environment;
3. An appeal for saving the National climatic and balneological complex Bankja;
4. An opinion by Ivan Stefchov Ranchev;
5. An opinion by Tsvetana Stefanova Rancheva;
6. An opinion by Gancho Krystev, agronomist, former Minister of the Agriculture;
7. Statement by Zhorzheta Mileva, mayoral deputy of the village of Malo Buchino

Reporter: Zhorzheta Mileva