PAS detectors are given priority in the distribution of the government’s nitrogen space. Minister of Nature and Nitrogen Van der Wal said this in a letter to the House of Representatives. The priority should apply from October. Interest group ZLTO calls it a ‘first step in the right direction’.
The PAS reporters ran into problems in 2019, when the court called an end to the scheme. Until then, these farmers did not need a permit for their nitrogen, which amounts to Natura2000 areas. Just reporting this was enough. But because of that court ruling, they were suddenly working illegally.
Step in the right direction
According to the ZLTO, it is now a first step in the right direction that the PAS reporters are given priority. “There has been arguing for four years, it is antisocial how they have been treated. So we think it’s great that they are now given priority again.”
Again, because previously it was also the case that the PAS detectors had priority on nitrogen space. But the previous cabinet chose to use that space for housing and the construction of national roads. Now that has been reversed.
The ZLTO wants ‘hard-hitting’ agreements about the PAS reporters to be included in the agricultural agreement. “So that the PAS reporters know where they stand.” The government and the agricultural sector are currently still negotiating that agreement.
Nitrogen lock
The situation in Brabant is different from other provinces. At the moment, Brabant cannot issue nature conservation permits. This permit is required for projects where nitrogen ends up in Natura2000 areas.
The Natura2000 areas in Brabant are in a very bad state. All nitrogen space that is released in Brabant must therefore be used for nature restoration. This is not (yet) the case in other provinces. They can therefore help PAS reporters obtain a permit themselves. North Brabant is completely dependent on the government in this respect.
The hope is that the buy-out scheme for peak loaders will release so much nitrogen space that Brabant can get rid of the ‘nitrogen lock’ and that the PAS reporters can be helped. After a long wait, Brussels has finally given the green light for this scheme. It is crucial that enough farmers make use of it. If this does not happen, forced buyout will be an option on the table.
A quarter of all PAS reporters have their company in Brabant. In March, a decision had to be made about 406 of them. They must be examined to see whether they indeed need extra nitrogen space for a permit.
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