Environmental officials launch 16 investigations into illegal excavation work

LRT reported that Lithuania’s Environmental Protection Department launched 16 investigations into potentially illegal excavation work in areas overseen by its Kaunas, Klaipėda, Panevėžys and Šiauliai offices during the second quarter of this year.

From April to June, officials checked whether excavation was carried out legally with the necessary permits, whether it had caused environmental damage and whether the affected areas had been properly restored.

Kaunas officials conducted 23 raids and inspected 26 plots, launching investigations in two cases. In the area overseen by the Klaipėda office, eight raids were carried out and 34 plots inspected. Five investigations were opened over suspected violations in plots in the municipalities of Šilutė, Jurbarkas and Pagėgiai.

Another nine investigations were launched in the areas overseen by the Šiauliai and Panevėžys offices. Panevėžys officials inspected 42 plots in various municipalities and opened six investigations. Šiauliai officials carried out four raids and inspected 20 plots in the municipalities of Telšiai, Mažeikiai and Naujoji Akmenė, launching three investigations.

Kaunas officials plan to continue the raids in October to December.