The Planning Agency has approved Landsvirkjun’s plans for geothermal prospecting boreholes in the area west of Thríhyrningar by Krafla in Skútustadahreppur parish, South Thingeyjarsýsla district. This prospecting is a step for acquiring information about the properties of the Krafla geothermal field in order to ascertain whether harnessable geothermal energy is available in the western area.
The project involves laying a track, creating a borehole site, drilling of sample boreholes and testing of them. It is planned to split the project into phases and a decision concerning phases 2 and 3 will be made in light of the results of the phase 1 trials. The results are expected to prove useful in determining the area to be harnessed and for drafting a long-term plan for geothermal energy production at Krafla. If phase 1 yields sufficient information, no more trial boreholes will be drilled in the area.
The Planning Agency says that both the options presented by the developer for disposal of runoff water can be approved, since they would involve temporary measures which will have a negligible environmental impact. Given the uncertainty about the flow routes of groundwater in the area and the distribution/dispersion of contaminants, the Planning Agency underlines the need for the developer to acquire further information about these factors as soon as possible. In the Planning Agency’s view, the findings of such studies, together with monitoring of what happens to the runoff water and the impact it has, will be able to shed light on whether a risk is posed to the biota of Mývatn by disposal of runoff water in connection with the project at Krafla.
The Planning Agency considers that the development will have an insignificant impact on flora and is unlikely to have a substantial influence on bird life, since construction will be kept to a minimum during the nesting season. The Agency considers it normal to close the track to the drilling site for all traffic at least during nesting, to reduce the effect of predators.
Furthermore, the Planning Agency considers that the counteractive measures as outlined in documents presented by the developer can preclude noise and atmospheric pollution from the development from having any severe effect on tourism. In the Agency’s view, the laying of a track and creation of a drilling site on the western side of Krafla diminish the virtually unspoiled and interesting landscape whole and thereby have a substantial and irreversible effect on the appearance of Leirhnjúkshraun lava field, which is protected under the Nature Conservation Act. However, no major impact on the geological conservation value of the lava field is involved. Thus the Planning Agency concludes that the development will not have any considerable impact on landforms and landscape.
The proposed geothermal prospecting on the western area of Krafla is not incorporated into the main plan for Skútustadahreppur parish, which therefore needs to be modified. The Planning Agency recommends that the change to the main plan should delimit an industrial area for geothermal energy production as required by the planning regulation. The proposed development in the western area is subject to a permit from Skútustadahreppur parish and an operating permit from the Northeast Iceland health committee. It is also governed by the provisions of Act no. 57/1998 on Research into and Utilization of Earth Resources. It is pointed out that changes to the main plan of Skútustadahreppur parish are subject to the approval of the Nature Conservation Council. According to nature conservation legislation, plans for proposed quarrying shall be drawn up before an implementation permit is issued.
It is important, in the Planning Agency’s view, to draw up a land utilization and conservation plan for the Krafla area before a permit is issued for prospecting on the western side of it.
On the basis of documents presented by the developer for inspection, and references, comments and the developer’s responses to them, the Planning Agency’s conclusion is that the planned prospecting drilling in the western area of Krafla in Skútustadahreppur parish will not result in any considerable environmental impact.