Case: High-voltage Lines In The Park “Znesinnia”

Region: Ukraine, Lviv
Essence of case: protection form exposure to electromagnetic emission
Parties: residents of Lviv, Regional Landscape Park (RLP) “Znesinnia”, OSC “Lvivoblenergo”
Essence of problem: prevention of trees cutting on the territory of RLP “Znesinnia” within the protective zone of high voltage lines and removal of high-voltage lines from the territory of the park or their replacement by underground cable power lines.

Main facts:

On November 4, 2002 administration of the Lviv power supply company “Lvivoblenergo” applied to the administration of RLP “Znesinnia” for approval of trees cutting in the corridor along high voltage lines within the park “Znesinnia” aiming at meeting “Electrical safety rules”, “Rules of electricity lines protection” and preventing accidents.
After preliminary calculation, made by the park administration together with the representatives of “Lvivoblenergo”, it was defined that 374 trees would be cut protective zone of lines.
The Administration of the RLP “Znesinnia” did not agree with such amount of trees cutting, grounding that high-voltage lines are passing abrupt areas (partially affecting core zone of the park ) and mass tree cutting could intensify erosion. RLP “Znesinnia” suggested not to cut all planned trees, but only those, that are really dangerous for park visitors and pose difficulties for high voltage lines operation, and to cut the top of other trees.
On December 28, 2002 the State department of Environment Protection in Lviv Region issued the permission to conduct trees cutting in the territory of RLP “Znesinnia”.
This permission was reconsidered by the prosecution office inspection and the number of trees was lessened to 121 trees.
On February, 2003 the Public Council at State department of Environment Protection in Lviv Region reached the conclusion that high-voltage lines should be installed out of the residential areas or replace them by underground electricity lines and send their recommendations to the head of Lviv City Council.
EPL prepared sent to “Lvivmistproect” ( the organization that have being preparing the general layout of Lviv) schemes of the park and plans of underground electricity cables.