Consultation letter

RAMMER

Consultation letter


Bodies entiteled to comment

List of addresses

Your ref

Ourr ref

Date

200600133-/MHK

08.09.06

Consultation - Draft regulation relating to an environment fee for visitors to Svalbard

The Ministry of the Environment herewith submits a consultative document and a draft regulation relating to an environment fee for visitors to Svalbard. The fixing of an environment fee for travelers to Svalbard is mentioned in the Fiscal Budget, in its discussion of an environmental protection fund for Svalbard, cf. Proposition no. 1 (2005-2006) to the Storting.

In the spring of 2005, the Ministry of the Environment circulated for broad consultation a proposal to introduce an environment fee for visitors to Svalbard. The responses showed that the majority were in favor of the principle of introducing an environment fee for visitors to Svalbard, the proceeds of which would be spent on measures in Svalbard intended to protect the environment. But several of the bodies consulted proposed fewer exceptions to the obligation to pay the fee and a simpler system for collecting it. In view of these proposals, the introduction of the environment fee was postponed.

The Ministry of the Environment has continued its work on the environment fee arrangement, and on 6 April 2006, the Ministry sent out a letter of information concerning the work on a fee for visitors to public agencies concerned, organizations, and both Norwegian and foreign travel and tourism enterprises.

The Ministry of the Environment proposes in the present consultation document the introduction by regulation of an environment fee for journeys to Svalbard’s land areas. In its new proposal, the Ministry has attached great importance to arriving at a system which is simple, cost-effective, and unbureaucratic. Regard for simpler rules has been combined with the polluter pays principle, in that all visitors will be charged a fee.

The difference from the proposal sent out for consultation in 2005 relates to the delimitation as to persons. In addition, changes have been made in the arrangements for collecting the fee from air passengers. According to the proposal, all visitors will pay the fee with the exception of permanent residents on Svalbard. Collection of the fee from air passengers will be effected through the air ticket, so that for permanent residents the plan is for a refund scheme to be operated. Where visitors to Svalbard by boat are concerned, no changes have been made to the proposal from 2005.

By means of the environment fee, visitors will contribute to the conservation of Svalbard’s unique wilderness areas and cultural heritage. The proceeds from the environment fee will be paid in to the Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund. Money from the Fund can only be spent on measures in Svalbard the purpose of which is to protect the environment.

The Ministry is currently preparing to implement the Fund, and proposes that the environment fee shall enter into force on 1 January 2007.

Enclosed are a consultation document and a draft regulation relating to an environment fee for visitors to Svalbard. The bodies consulted are requested to obtain opinions on the matter from subordinate bodies that are not on the list of addresses, insofar as this can help to shed more light on the questions raised. Comments, if any, must reach us no later than 1 November 2006.

Yours sincerely

Tore Ising
Deputy Director General

Marie Helene Korwvoll
Adviser