{"id":34372,"date":"2026-03-01T11:18:35","date_gmt":"2026-03-01T11:18:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nome.unak.is\/wordpress\/?p=34372"},"modified":"2026-03-30T09:20:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T09:20:56","slug":"leyfisveitingar-og-storar-vatnsaflsvirkjanir-a-islandi-hvad-hefur-breyst-eftir-karahnjukavirkjun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nome.unak.is\/wordpress\/volume-21-no-1-2026\/new-article-double-blind-peer-review-volume-21-no-1-2026\/leyfisveitingar-og-storar-vatnsaflsvirkjanir-a-islandi-hvad-hefur-breyst-eftir-karahnjukavirkjun\/","title":{"rendered":"Leyfisveitingar og st\u00f3rar vatnsaflsvirkjanir \u00e1 \u00cdslandi: hva\u00f0 hefur breyst eftir K\u00e1rahnj\u00fakavirkjun?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\t
\n\n\t\t<\/i><\/span> <\/a>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Inngangur<\/strong>[1]<\/a><\/p>\n

St\u00f3rar vatnsaflsvirkjanir eiga s\u00e9r nokkra s\u00f6gu \u00e1 \u00cdslandi. Upp \u00far mi\u00f0ri 20. \u00f6ld, e\u00f0a me\u00f0 stofnun Landsvirkjunar \u00e1ri\u00f0 1965, h\u00f3fst t\u00edmi st\u00f3rvirkjana og raforkuframlei\u00f0slu til st\u00f3ri\u00f0ju.[2]<\/a> Megin\u00e1hersla var \u00e1 a\u00f0 rafv\u00e6\u00f0a landi\u00f0 og n\u00fdta orkuna til uppbyggingar atvinnu- og mannl\u00edfs me\u00f0 atbeina r\u00edkisvaldsins. T\u00edmam\u00f3t ur\u00f0u \u00ed s\u00f6gu \u00fej\u00f3\u00f0arinnar \u00feegar B\u00farfellsvirkjun var gangsett \u00e1ri\u00f0 1969, en h\u00fan er st\u00e6rst \u00feeirra vatnsaflsvirkjana sem reistar voru \u00e1 s\u00ed\u00f0ustu \u00f6ld.[3]<\/a><\/p>\n

Grunnurinn var lag\u00f0ur me\u00f0 \u00fe\u00e1gildandi raforkul\u00f6gum nr. 12\/1946. \u00dear var kve\u00f0i\u00f0 \u00e1 um a\u00f0 r\u00edkinu einu v\u00e6ri heimilt a\u00f0 reisa og reka raforkuver sem v\u00e6ru st\u00e6rri en 100 hest\u00f6fl. Ekki var n\u00f3g me\u00f0 a\u00f0 r\u00edki\u00f0 hef\u00f0i einkar\u00e9tt til a\u00f0 annast vinnslu \u00e1 raforku handa \u00edb\u00faum landsins og flutning hennar milli h\u00e9ra\u00f0a og landshluta, heldur bar \u00fev\u00ed skylda til a\u00f0 annast hvoru tveggja. Fyrirsj\u00e1anlegt var a\u00f0 \u00fej\u00f3\u00f0arinnar bei\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 st\u00f3ra verkefni a\u00f0 koma upp mannvirkjum til a\u00f0 vinna raforku og henni \u00feurfti a\u00f0 veita um landi\u00f0 \u201eef \u00fer\u00f3un atvinnu- og menningarl\u00edfs\u201c \u00e6tti a\u00f0 haldast h\u00e9r \u00e1 landi, eins og sag\u00f0i \u00ed athugasemdum me\u00f0 frumvarpi til laganna. Sj\u00e1 \u00feurfti kaupst\u00f6\u00f0um og \u00feorpum fyrir raforku og undirb\u00faningur og skipulagning \u00feess yr\u00f0i ekki \u00e1n atbeina r\u00edkisvaldsins.[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

Fr\u00e1 \u00e1rinu 1946 til \u00e1rsins 2003 var sam\u00feykki Al\u00feingis \u00e1skili\u00f0 fyrir n\u00fdjum raforkuverum, e\u00f0a \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 auka vi\u00f0 hin fyrri orkuverk. Leyfi til handa sveitarf\u00e9l\u00f6gum, einstaklingum e\u00f0a f\u00e9l\u00f6gum fyrir minni raforkuverum var hins vegar \u00ed h\u00f6ndum r\u00e1\u00f0herra. \u00dea\u00f0 fyrirkomulag h\u00e9lst \u00e1fram me\u00f0 orkul\u00f6gum nr. 58\/1967[5]<\/a> en \u00feeim var svo breytt \u00ed verulegum atri\u00f0um me\u00f0 raforkul\u00f6gum nr. 65\/2003. \u00deannig var leyfi fyrir B\u00farfellsvirkjun veitt me\u00f0 l\u00f6gum nr. 59\/1965 um Landsvirkjun.<\/p>\n

\u00c1ri\u00f0 2007 var K\u00e1rahnj\u00fakavirkjun gangsett en h\u00fan er langst\u00e6rsta vatnsaflsvirkjun landsins. \u00c1\u00f0ur haf\u00f0i Al\u00feingi veitt leyfi fyrir henni me\u00f0 l\u00f6gum um virkjun J\u00f6kuls\u00e1r \u00e1 Br\u00fa og J\u00f6kuls\u00e1r \u00ed Flj\u00f3tsdal nr. 38\/2002. Bygging hennar olli deilum og kom af sta\u00f0 mikilli samf\u00e9lagslegri umr\u00e6\u00f0u um umhverfis\u00e1hrif hennar. \u00cd kj\u00f6lfari\u00f0 t\u00f3k leyfisveitingarferli\u00f0 breytingum \u00e1ri\u00f0 2003 \u00fear sem s\u00fa grundvallarbreyting var ger\u00f0 a\u00f0 vald til a\u00f0 veita virkjunarleyfi var f\u00e6rt fr\u00e1 l\u00f6ggjafanum til framkv\u00e6mdarvaldsins. \u00a0Leyfisveitingarferli\u00f0 s\u00e6tir n\u00fa vaxandi gagnr\u00fdni fyrir a\u00f0 vera \u00feunglamalegt og t\u00edmafrekt og hefur Hvammsvirkjun veri\u00f0 tekin sem d\u00e6mi um \u00fea\u00f0.<\/p>\n

Markmi\u00f0i\u00f0 me\u00f0 greininni er a\u00f0 veita sv\u00f6r vi\u00f0 \u00feeirri spurningu hvort b\u00e6ta megi n\u00fagildandi leyfisveitingarferli og einfalda \u00fea\u00f0 me\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 fela l\u00f6ggjafarvaldinu leyfisveitingarvaldi\u00f0 a\u00f0 n\u00fdju \u00ed tilfelli st\u00f3rra vatnsaflsvirkjana, l\u00edkt og var fyrir gildist\u00f6ku laganna \u00e1ri\u00f0 2003. \u00cd \u00fev\u00ed skyni ver\u00f0ur fjalla\u00f0 um m\u00e1lsme\u00f0fer\u00f0 vegna K\u00e1rahnj\u00fakavirkjunar annars vegar og Hvammsvirkjunar hins vegar. \u00dea\u00f0 ver\u00f0ur gert me\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 greina einkum l\u00f6g, l\u00f6gsk\u00fdringarg\u00f6gn, lagaframkv\u00e6md og stj\u00f3rns\u00fdsluframkv\u00e6md vegna \u00feeirra. Fjalla\u00f0 ver\u00f0ur um hvernig \u00fev\u00ed markmi\u00f0i ver\u00f0ur n\u00e1\u00f0 \u00feannig a\u00f0 ferli\u00f0 s\u00e9 l\u00fd\u00f0r\u00e6\u00f0islegt, me\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 \u00fe\u00e1ttt\u00f6kur\u00e9ttur almennings s\u00e9 trygg\u00f0ur sem og a\u00f0koma Al\u00feingis. Einnig ver\u00f0ur viki\u00f0 a\u00f0 tilraunum l\u00f6ggjafans til a\u00f0 koma leyfisveitingarferlinu \u00ed farveg sem stu\u00f0li a\u00f0 sem mestri\u00a0 s\u00e1tt um framkv\u00e6mdir af \u00feessu tagi en hann s\u00e6tir n\u00fa gagnr\u00fdni fyrir a\u00f0 vera fl\u00f3kinn og \u00feunglamalegur.<\/em>[6]<\/a> Ekki ver\u00f0ur fjalla\u00f0 hvort og hva\u00f0a \u00e1hrif ytri a\u00f0st\u00e6\u00f0ur kunna a\u00f0 hafa \u00e1hrif \u00e1 leyfisveitingarferli\u00f0 svo \u00ed efnahagsl\u00edfinu.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>St\u00f3ri\u00f0ja \u00e1 Austurlandi<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hugmyndir um virkjun J\u00f6kuls\u00e1r \u00ed Flj\u00f3tsdal sem var talin \u201eeinn af \u00e1litlegri virkjunarkostum h\u00e9r \u00e1 landi\u201c m\u00e1 rekja aftur til \u00e1rsins 1954.[7]<\/a> Virkjunin var hluti af st\u00f3ri\u00f0ju\u00e1formum en fr\u00e1 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 \u00e1lveri\u00f0 \u00ed Straumsv\u00edk var reist voru uppi \u00e1\u00e6tlanir um frekari stj\u00f3ri\u00f0ju og a\u00f0 n\u00fdta \u00fe\u00e1 \u00f3beislu\u00f0u orku sem h\u00e9r er a\u00f0 finna.[8]<\/a> \u00der\u00e1tt fyrir mikinn \u00e1huga \u00e1 a\u00f0 reisa st\u00f3ri\u00f0ju \u00e1 Austurlandi og leyfi Al\u00feingis fyrir Flj\u00f3tsdalsvirkjun, sem veitt var fyrst \u00e1ri\u00f0 1981[9]<\/a>, lei\u00f0 nokkur t\u00edmi \u00e1\u00f0ur en r\u00e1\u00f0ist var \u00ed virkjunarframkv\u00e6mdir \u00e1 Austurlandi. \u00cdslensk stj\u00f3rnv\u00f6ld voru \u00e1vallt \u00e1fram um verkefni\u00f0 en a\u00f0 sama skapi var \u00f3sennilegt a\u00f0 st\u00f3ri\u00f0ja yr\u00f0i \u00fer\u00f3u\u00f0 h\u00e9r \u00e1 landi nema \u00ed samvinnu vi\u00f0 erlenda fj\u00e1rfesta. \u00deegar \u00e1 reyndi var \u00e1hugi \u00e1 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 fj\u00e1rfesta \u00ed \u00edslensku atvinnul\u00edfi hins vegar minni en stj\u00f3rnv\u00f6ld h\u00f6f\u00f0u vonast eftir og \u00fev\u00ed dr\u00f3st \u00e1 langinn a\u00f0 koma verkefninu \u00e1 koppinn.[10]<\/a><\/p>\n

Me\u00f0al st\u00f3ri\u00f0juverkefna voru \u00e1form um k\u00edsilm\u00e1lmverksmi\u00f0ju[11]<\/a> en eftir a\u00f0 \u00feau runnu \u00fat \u00ed sandinn var undirritu\u00f0 viljayfirl\u00fdsing \u00edslenskra stj\u00f3rnvalda og Atlants\u00e1ls \u00e1ri\u00f0 1990 um \u00e1lbr\u00e6\u00f0slu \u00e1 Keilisnesi.[12]<\/a> I\u00f0na\u00f0arr\u00e1\u00f0herra gaf \u00fat framkv\u00e6mdarleyfi \u00e1 \u00e1rinu 1991 vegna J\u00f6kuls\u00e1rvirkjunar \u00e1 grundvelli laga nr.\u00a060\/1981<\/a> og var mi\u00f0a\u00f0 vi\u00f0 a\u00f0 orka fr\u00e1 virkjuninni yr\u00f0i n\u00fdtt fyrir \u00e1lver \u00e1 Keilisnesi.[13]<\/a><\/p>\n

Framkv\u00e6mdum vegna \u00feess var hins vegar slegi\u00f0 \u00e1 frest \u00ed a\u0301rslok 1991 og m\u00e1li\u00f0 teki\u00f0 upp aftur \u00e1ri\u00f0 1996 \u00e1n \u00e1rangurs.[14]<\/a> Orku- og st\u00f3ri\u00f0junefnd Sambands sveitarf\u00e9laga \u00e1 Austurlandi h\u00e9lt hins vegar \u00e1fram a\u00f0 vinna a\u00f0 verkefninu \u00ed samvinnu vi\u00f0 og me\u00f0 stu\u00f0ningi i\u00f0na\u00f0arr\u00e1\u00f0uneytis og Landsvirkjunar, einkum \u00e1rin 1997 og 1999.[15]<\/a> Af \u00feessu m\u00e1 sj\u00e1 a\u00f0 r\u00edkur vilji var til \u00feess af h\u00e1lfu n\u00e6rsamf\u00e9lagsins og stj\u00f3rnvalda a\u00f0 n\u00fdta hina \u00f3beislu\u00f0u vatnsorku til st\u00f3ri\u00f0ju til a\u00f0 styrkja bygg\u00f0ina sem \u00e1tti undir h\u00f6gg a\u00f0 s\u00e6kja.[16]<\/a><\/p>\n

Svo f\u00f3r a\u00f0[17]<\/a> var gengi\u00f0 til samninga vi\u00f0 Alcoa um \u00e1lverksmi\u00f0ju \u00e1 Rey\u00f0arfir\u00f0i \u00ed mars 2003.[18]<\/a> Samhli\u00f0a \u00feessu, e\u00f0a \u00ed apr\u00edl 2002, sam\u00feykkti Al\u00feingi frumvarp til laga um m.a. virkjun J\u00f6kuls\u00e1r \u00e1 Flj\u00f3tsdal, sj\u00e1 l\u00f6g nr. 38\/2002 um virkjun J\u00f6kuls\u00e1r \u00e1 Br\u00fa og J\u00f6kuls\u00e1r \u00ed Flj\u00f3tsdal og st\u00e6kkun Kr\u00f6fluvirkjunar sem \u00f6\u00f0lu\u00f0ust gildi \u00ed ma\u00ed \u00fea\u00f0 \u00e1r. Um hausti\u00f0, 2. september 2002, gaf i\u00f0na\u00f0arr\u00e1\u00f0herra \u00fat virkjunarleyfi.[19]<\/a><\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>M\u00e1lsme\u00f0fer\u00f0 og \u00fej\u00f3\u00f0r\u00e9ttarlegar skuldbindingar<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vi\u00f0 undirb\u00faning st\u00f3ri\u00f0ju og Flj\u00f3tsdalsvirkjunar \u00e1 Austurlandi \u00e1 10. \u00e1ratugnum breyttust vi\u00f0horf almennings til umhverfism\u00e1la nokku\u00f0 hratt, auk \u00feess sem \u00cdsland undirgekkst \u00fej\u00f3\u00f0r\u00e9ttarlegar skuldbindingar sem bo\u00f0u\u00f0u talsvert breytta m\u00e1lsme\u00f0fer\u00f0 vegna tiltekinna framkv\u00e6mda sem hafa \u00e1hrif \u00e1 umhverfi\u00f0. \u00dear var um a\u00f0 r\u00e6\u00f0a annars vegar a\u00f0ild a\u00f0 EES-samningnum og hins vegar undirritun \u00c1r\u00f3sasamningsins sem fjallar um uppl\u00fdsingagj\u00f6f til almennings og \u00fe\u00e1ttt\u00f6ku hans \u00feegar teknar eru \u00e1kvar\u00f0anir sem geta haft \u00e1hrif \u00e1 umhverfi\u00f0.<\/p>\n

A\u00f0ild a\u00f0 EES kalla\u00f0i \u00e1 uppt\u00f6ku og innlei\u00f0ingu \u00e1 nokku\u00f0 umfangsmiklu regluverki Evr\u00f3pusambandsins \u00e1 svi\u00f0i umhverfism\u00e1la. Umhverfismat var\u00f0 ekki l\u00f6gbundi\u00f0 \u00e1 \u00cdslandi fyrr en me\u00f0 innlei\u00f0ingu \u00e1 reglum EES um umhverfismat, sbr. l\u00f6g nr. 63\/1993 um mat \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum sem \u00f6\u00f0lu\u00f0ust gildi \u00e1ri\u00f0 1994. Samkv\u00e6mt hinu n\u00fdja regluverki skyldi haft samr\u00e1\u00f0 vi\u00f0 almenning \u00ed umhverfismatsferlinu, sem f\u00f3l m.a. \u00ed s\u00e9r skyldu til a\u00f0 uppl\u00fdsa almenning og gefa honum kost \u00e1 a\u00f0 koma a\u00f0 athugasemdum.[20]<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00cd almennum athugasemdum me\u00f0 frumvarpi til laga um mat \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum var \u00feetta \u00e1r\u00e9tta\u00f0 og \u00fev\u00ed l\u00fdst a\u00f0 auk a\u00f0ildar a\u00f0 EES hef\u00f0i frumvarpi\u00f0 veri\u00f0 sami\u00f0 \u201etil \u00feess a\u00f0 hrinda \u00ed framkv\u00e6md stefnu r\u00edkisstj\u00f3rnarinnar \u00ed umhverfism\u00e1lum.\u201c Var m.a. v\u00edsa\u00f0 til n\u00fdlegrar l\u00f6ggjafar \u00e1 Nor\u00f0url\u00f6ndunum um mat \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum sem jafnframt s\u00fdndi \u00fe\u00e1 \u00fer\u00f3un og vi\u00f0horfsbreytingu til \u00fe\u00e1ttt\u00f6ku almennings og undirb\u00fanings framkv\u00e6mda sem \u00e1tti s\u00e9r sta\u00f0 \u00e1 \u00feessum t\u00edma.[21]<\/a> \u00deessar skuldbindingar trygg\u00f0u a\u00f0komu almennings a\u00f0 \u00e1kvar\u00f0anat\u00f6ku og endurspeglu\u00f0u m.a. meginreglu R\u00ed\u00f3yfirl\u00fdsingarinnar um mikilv\u00e6gi \u00fe\u00e1ttt\u00f6ku allra borgara sem hlut eiga a\u00f0 m\u00e1li \u00ed umhverfism\u00e1lum.[22]<\/a><\/p>\n

Flj\u00f3tsdalsvirkjun og mat \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum<\/em><\/p>\n

Me\u00f0 hinum n\u00fdju l\u00f6gum um mat \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum ur\u00f0u vatnsaflsvirkjanir (vatnsorkuvirkjanir) me\u00f0 uppsett afl 10MW e\u00f0a meira h\u00e1\u00f0ar umhverfismati, eins og sag\u00f0i \u00ed 1. tl. 1. mgr. 5. gr. \u00fe\u00e1gildandi laga um umhverfismat nr. 63\/1993. \u00dear me\u00f0 var a\u00f0koma almennings a\u00f0 undirb\u00faningsferli matsskyldra framkv\u00e6mda l\u00f6gbundin.[23]<\/a><\/p>\n

Flj\u00f3tt sk\u00f6pu\u00f0ust umr\u00e6\u00f0ur um hvort meta skyldi umhverfis\u00e1hrif framkv\u00e6mdanna skv. l\u00f6gunum og \u00feeim n\u00fdju reglum sem \u00feau innleiddu. Leyfi haf\u00f0i \u00feegar veri\u00f0 veitt fyrir Flj\u00f3tsdalsvirkjun vi\u00f0 a\u00f0ild a\u00f0 EES me\u00f0 l\u00f6gum nr. 60\/1981, auk \u00feess sem r\u00e1\u00f0herra haf\u00f0i veitt Landsvirkjun leyfi til a\u00f0 hefja framkv\u00e6mdir vi\u00f0 virkjunina \u00feann 24. apr\u00edl 1991. Framkv\u00e6mdir vegna Flj\u00f3tsdalsvirkjunar h\u00f6f\u00f0u hins vegar ekki hafist vi\u00f0 undirb\u00faning laganna.[24]<\/a> Vi\u00f0 \u00feessu var brug\u00f0ist \u00e1 Al\u00feingi vi\u00f0 me\u00f0fer\u00f0 frumvarps til laganna me\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 ger\u00f0ar voru breytingar \u00ed \u00fe\u00e1 veru a\u00f0 framkv\u00e6mdir samkv\u00e6mt leyfum \u00fatgefnum fyrir 1. ma\u00ed 1994 voru undanskildar mati \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum.[25]<\/a> Fyrir viki\u00f0 voru framkv\u00e6mdir vegna Flj\u00f3tsdalsvirkjunar ekki h\u00e1\u00f0ar umhverfismati.<\/p>\n

\u00deessi l\u00f6gbundna undan\u00fe\u00e1ga fr\u00e1 umhverfismati Flj\u00f3tsdalsvirkjunar \u00e1tti eftir a\u00f0 vekja umr\u00e6\u00f0ur og deilur. Segja m\u00e1 a\u00f0 \u00fe\u00e6r hafi hafist af alv\u00f6ru \u00e1 Al\u00feingi er l\u00f6g\u00f0 var fram \u00feings\u00e1lyktunartillaga af h\u00e1lfu stj\u00f3rnarandst\u00f6\u00f0u\u00feingmanns hinn 29. ma\u00ed 1998 um a\u00f0 fram f\u00e6ri mat \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum fyrirhuga\u00f0rar Flj\u00f3tsdalsvirkjunar.[26]<\/a> Stj\u00f3rnarandsta\u00f0an s\u00f3tti \u00feessa kr\u00f6fu st\u00edft en tillagan var endurflutt \u00ferisvar, \u00fe.e. 6. okt\u00f3ber sama \u00e1r,[27]<\/a> 10. j\u00fan\u00ed 1999[28]<\/a> og 5. okt\u00f3ber 1999.[29]<\/a> Till\u00f6gurnar gengu \u00fat \u00e1 \u00fea\u00f0 a\u00f0 r\u00edkisstj\u00f3rnin l\u00e9ti fram fara mat \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum fyrirhuga\u00f0rar Flj\u00f3tsdalsvirkjunar nr. 63\/1993 \u00fer\u00e1tt fyrir a\u00f0 virkjunarleyfi hef\u00f0i \u00feegar veri\u00f0 veitt.[30]<\/a> \u00cd umr\u00e6\u00f0um um till\u00f6guna hinn 14. j\u00fan\u00ed 1999 kom hins vegar sk\u00fdrt fram hj\u00e1 umhverfisr\u00e1\u00f0herra a\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 v\u00e6ri stefna r\u00edkisstj\u00f3rnarinnar og h\u00fan liti svo \u00e1 a\u00f0 framkv\u00e6mdin v\u00e6ri undan\u00feegin umhverfismati vegna br\u00e1\u00f0abirg\u00f0a\u00e1kv\u00e6\u00f0is \u00ed l\u00f6gunum.[31]<\/a> \u00c1 m\u00f3ti voru m.a. f\u00e6r\u00f0 r\u00f6k fyrir mikilv\u00e6gi mats \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum svo almenningur fengi a\u00f0 \u201enj\u00f3ta l\u00fd\u00f0r\u00e6\u00f0islegs r\u00e9ttar s\u00edns til a\u00f0 segja sko\u00f0un s\u00edna \u00e1 m\u00e1linu og koma athugasemdum s\u00ednum \u00e1 framf\u00e6ri vi\u00f0 stj\u00f3rns\u00fdsluna.\u201c[32]<\/a><\/p>\n

Me\u00f0al \u00feeirra sem l\u00f6g\u00f0ust gegn umhverfismati var Samband sveitarf\u00e9laga \u00ed Austurlandskj\u00f6rd\u00e6mi sem l\u00fdsti jafnframt yfir stu\u00f0ningi vi\u00f0 \u201e\u00e1form um virkjunarframkv\u00e6mdir \u00e1 Austurlandi og n\u00fdtingu orkunnar \u00ed fj\u00f3r\u00f0ungnum\u201c. \u00de\u00e1 l\u00fdsti Austur-H\u00e9ra\u00f0 yfir stu\u00f0ningi vi\u00f0 virkjun nor\u00f0an Vatnaj\u00f6kuls, \u201eenda ver\u00f0i orkan n\u00fdtt til uppbyggingar atvinnul\u00edfs \u00e1 Austurlandi og teki\u00f0 ver\u00f0i fullt tillit til umhverfissj\u00f3narmi\u00f0a.\u201c[33]<\/a> \u00dea\u00f0 l\u00e1 \u00fev\u00ed fyrir a\u00f0 mikill vilji var fyrir \u00fev\u00ed \u00ed n\u00e6rsamf\u00e9laginu a\u00f0 r\u00e1\u00f0ast \u00ed framkv\u00e6mdir \u00e1n frekari tafa.<\/p>\n

R\u00edkisstj\u00f3rnin br\u00e1st vi\u00f0 me\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 hinn 12. n\u00f3vember 1999 m\u00e6lti \u00fe\u00e1verandi i\u00f0na\u00f0arr\u00e1\u00f0herra fyrir \u00feings\u00e1lyktunartill\u00f6gu um a\u00f0 Al\u00feingi l\u00fdsti yfir stu\u00f0ningi vi\u00f0 a\u00f0 haldi\u00f0 yr\u00f0i \u00e1fram framkv\u00e6mdum vi\u00f0 Flj\u00f3tsdalsvirkjun, sbr. l\u00f6g um raforkuver nr. 60\/1981, og var h\u00fan sam\u00feykkt.[34]<\/a> \u00cd \u00feings\u00e1lyktunartill\u00f6gunni var \u00fev\u00ed og l\u00fdst a\u00f0 \u00fer\u00e1tt fyrir l\u00f6g um mat \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum hef\u00f0i umsagnarr\u00e9ttur veri\u00f0 l\u00f6gbundinn \u00ed vatnal\u00f6gum nr. 15\/1923 a\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed er var\u00f0a\u00f0i \u00fe\u00e1 sem \u00e1ttu hagsmuna a\u00f0 g\u00e6ta, sbr. 144. gr. \u00de\u00e1 hef\u00f0i, vi\u00f0 \u00fatg\u00e1fu framkv\u00e6mdarleyfis \u00e1ri\u00f0 1991, framkv\u00e6mdin veri\u00f0 augl\u00fdst \u00ferisvar \u00ed L\u00f6gbirtingabla\u00f0inu og auk \u00feess \u00ed vikubl\u00f6\u00f0um \u00fatgefnum \u00e1 Austurlandi, og athugasemdir borist fr\u00e1 \u00e1tta a\u00f0ilum. [35]<\/a><\/p>\n

Till\u00f6gunni fylgdi sk\u00fdrsla fr\u00e1 5. n\u00f3vember 1999 sem Landsvirkjun haf\u00f0i sem framkv\u00e6mdara\u00f0ili l\u00e1ti\u00f0 vinna um umhverfis\u00e1hrif Flj\u00f3tsdalsvirkjunar.[36]<\/a> R\u00f6kin fyrir \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 ekki f\u00e6ri fram umhverfismat v\u00e6ru m.a. \u00feau a\u00f0 matsferli sem l\u00f6gin um mat \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum kv\u00e6\u00f0i \u00e1 um \u201ekollvarpi \u00feeirri t\u00edma\u00e1\u00e6tlun sem unni\u00f0 er eftir \u00ed tengslum vi\u00f0 \u00e1lver vi\u00f0 Rey\u00f0arfj\u00f6r\u00f0 og fram kemur \u00ed yfirl\u00fdsingu r\u00edkisstj\u00f3rnar \u00cdslands, Landsvirkjunar og Hydro Aluminium A\/S fr\u00e1 29. j\u00fan\u00ed 1999.\u201c Vi\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 g\u00e6tu glatast mikilv\u00e6gir samningshagsmunir \u00fej\u00f3\u00f0arinnar.[37]<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00c1fram var hins vegar deilt \u00e1 Al\u00feingi og \u00ed opinberri umr\u00e6\u00f0u um hvort fram skyldi fara mat \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum Flj\u00f3tsdalsvirkjunar skv. l\u00f6gum um mat \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum. \u00deessar deilur endurspeglu\u00f0u \u00fe\u00e1 st\u00f3rauknu vitund almennings um umhverfism\u00e1l sem var\u00f0 \u00e1 t\u00edunda \u00e1ratug s\u00ed\u00f0ustu aldar sem hefur veri\u00f0 l\u00fdst sem \u00e1ratug sj\u00e1lfb\u00e6rrar \u00fer\u00f3unar og uppl\u00fdsinga um umhverfism\u00e1l.[38]<\/a> \u00deannig t\u00f3k einn stj\u00f3rnarli\u00f0i undir \u00feings\u00e1lyktunartill\u00f6guna m.a. me\u00f0 \u00feeim r\u00f6kum a\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 v\u00e6ri si\u00f0fer\u00f0ileg \u00e1byrg\u00f0 Al\u00feingis a\u00f0 g\u00e6ta \u00feess a\u00f0 komandi kynsl\u00f3\u00f0ir m\u00e6ttu \u201enj\u00f3ta \u00f3spilltrar n\u00e1tt\u00faru \u00e1 h\u00e1lendi landsins.\u201c Vi\u00f0horfin hef\u00f0u breyst fr\u00e1 \u00e1rinu 1981 og ekki s\u00ed\u00f0ur fr\u00e1 1993. \u00c1rlega sj\u00e1ist mikil \u00fer\u00f3un og breyting \u00e1 sko\u00f0unum \u00ed \u00fe\u00e1 \u00e1tt a\u00f0 \u201evernda umhverfi\u00f0 fyrir framt\u00ed\u00f0ina.\u201c [39]<\/a><\/p>\n

H\u00f6r\u00f0 sko\u00f0anaskipti um framkv\u00e6mdina sj\u00e1lfa ur\u00f0u einnig \u00ed samf\u00e9laginu vegna neikv\u00e6\u00f0ra umhverfis\u00e1hrifa. Umhverfisverndarsamt\u00f6kum fj\u00f6lga\u00f0i mj\u00f6g \u00e1 seinni hluta 10. \u00e1ratugarins og stofnu\u00f0 voru samt\u00f6k um verndun h\u00e1lendis Austurlands \u00e1ri\u00f0 1997 vegna virkjunarframkv\u00e6mda. Haldinn var fj\u00f6lmennur fundur Samtaka n\u00e1tt\u00faruverndarsinna \u00ed H\u00e1sk\u00f3lab\u00ed\u00f3i[40]<\/a> og nokkrir stj\u00f3rnarandst\u00f6\u00f0u\u00feingmenn k\u00f6llu\u00f0u eftir \u00fej\u00f3\u00f0aratkv\u00e6\u00f0agrei\u00f0slu \u00e1 \u00feingi um framt\u00ed\u00f0 h\u00e1lendisins nor\u00f0an Vatnaj\u00f6kuls. [41]<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00deeir sem l\u00f6g\u00f0ust gegn framkv\u00e6mdinni bentu \u00e1 a\u00f0 virkjanasv\u00e6\u00f0i\u00f0 v\u00e6ri hluti af st\u00e6rsta \u00f3snortna v\u00ed\u00f0erni \u00ed Evr\u00f3pu, auk \u00feess sem h\u00fan hef\u00f0i \u00ed f\u00f6r me\u00f0 s\u00e9r sker\u00f0ingu \u00e1 l\u00edffr\u00e6\u00f0ilegri fj\u00f6lbreytni. \u00de\u00e1 v\u00e6ru mannvirki vegna virkjunarinnar st\u00f3r, einkum st\u00edflur, vegir og skur\u00f0ir, og hef\u00f0u veruleg \u00e1hrif \u00e1 landslag og \u00e1s\u00fdnd landsins, svo og mi\u00f0lunarl\u00f3n og breytingar \u00e1 rennsli j\u00f6kul\u00e1a.[42]<\/a> Fylgismenn framkv\u00e6mdanna t\u00f6ldu hana hins vegar mikilv\u00e6gt bygg\u00f0am\u00e1l og stu\u00f0la a\u00f0 b\u00e6ttum efnahag. H\u00e9r v\u00f3gust \u00fev\u00ed \u00e1 atvinnu- og bygg\u00f0asj\u00f3narmi\u00f0 annars vegar og sj\u00f3narmi\u00f0 tengd umhverfisvernd hins vegar.<\/p>\n

3.1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 R\u00e1\u00f0ist \u00ed ger\u00f0 umhverfismats<\/p>\n

\u00der\u00e1tt fyrir afst\u00f6\u00f0u r\u00edkisstj\u00f3rnarinnar um a\u00f0 framkv\u00e6mdin v\u00e6ri ekki matsskyld \u00fer\u00f3u\u00f0ust m\u00e1l me\u00f0 \u00feeim h\u00e6tti a\u00f0 framkv\u00e6mdara\u00f0ilinn \u00e1kva\u00f0 a\u00f0 st\u00edga inn \u00ed \u00fe\u00e6r miklu deilur sem uppi voru m.a. me\u00f0 tilv\u00edsun til \u00feeirra vi\u00f0horfsbreytinga sem or\u00f0i\u00f0 hef\u00f0u \u00ed samf\u00e9laginu. Landsvirkjun r\u00e9\u00f0st \u00feannig \u00ed mat \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum og sendi till\u00f6gu a\u00f0 mats\u00e1\u00e6tlun vegna K\u00e1rahnj\u00fakavirkjunar til Skipulagsstofnunar 14. j\u00fal\u00ed 2000 \u00ed samr\u00e6mi vi\u00f0 \u00fe\u00e1gildandi l\u00f6g.[43]<\/a> Var\u00f0a\u00f0i h\u00fan sameina\u00f0a virkjun J\u00f6kuls\u00e1r \u00e1 Br\u00fa (e\u00f0a Dal) og J\u00f6kuls\u00e1r \u00ed Flj\u00f3tsdal, en ekki eing\u00f6ngu \u00fe\u00e1 s\u00ed\u00f0arnefndu.[44]<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00dev\u00ed n\u00e6st tilkynnti Landsvirkjun framkv\u00e6mdina til Skipulagsstofnunar \u00feann 20. apr\u00edl 2001 og lag\u00f0i fram matssk\u00fdrslu vegna hennar.[45]<\/a> \u00dear me\u00f0 h\u00f3fst kynningart\u00edmabil vegna virkjunarframkv\u00e6mdanna \u00fear sem sk\u00fdrslan var augl\u00fdst \u00ed dagbl\u00f6\u00f0um, b\u00e6\u00f0i \u00e1 landsv\u00edsu og heima \u00ed h\u00e9ra\u00f0i. Gr\u00ed\u00f0arlegur \u00e1hugi var \u00e1 m\u00e1linu sem endurspegla\u00f0i \u00fe\u00e1 miklu \u00fej\u00f3\u00f0f\u00e9lagslegu umr\u00e6\u00f0u og deilur sem \u00fe\u00e1 h\u00f6f\u00f0u \u00feegar risi\u00f0 vegna framkv\u00e6mdanna. \u00c1 kynningart\u00edmanum b\u00e1rust 362 athugasemdir vi\u00f0 sk\u00fdrsluna fr\u00e1 einstaklingum og f\u00e9lagasamt\u00f6kum, langflestar fr\u00e1 einstaklingum. \u00de\u00e1 eru \u00f3taldar umsagnir fr\u00e1 stofnunum og s\u00e9rfr\u00e6\u00f0i\u00e1lit, auk \u00feeirra sem b\u00e1rust erlendis fr\u00e1. [46]<\/a><\/p>\n

Hinn 1. \u00e1g\u00fast 2001 \u00farskur\u00f0a\u00f0i Skipulagsstofnun \u00e1 \u00feann veg a\u00f0 h\u00fan leg\u00f0ist gegn framkv\u00e6mdinni \u201evegna umtalsver\u00f0ra umhverfis\u00e1hrifa og \u00f3fulln\u00e6gjandi uppl\u00fdsinga um einstaka \u00fe\u00e6tti framkv\u00e6mdarinnar og umhverfis\u00e1hrifa hennar.\u201c[47]<\/a> \u00c1 anna\u00f0 hundra\u00f0 k\u00e6rur b\u00e1rust \u00e1 \u00farskur\u00f0i Skipulagsstofnunar til r\u00e1\u00f0herra sem felldi hann \u00far gildi me\u00f0 \u00farskur\u00f0i s\u00ednum 20. desember 2001 og f\u00e9llst \u00e1 hina fyrirhugu\u00f0u framkv\u00e6md me\u00f0 um tuttugu skilyr\u00f0um.[48]<\/a> Sk\u00f6mmu s\u00ed\u00f0ar, e\u00f0a 24. jan\u00faar 2002, f\u00f3r Landsvirkjun \u00feess \u00e1 leit vi\u00f0 stj\u00f3rnv\u00f6ld a\u00f0 lagt yr\u00f0i fyrir Al\u00feingi frumvarp til laga um heimild til handa Landsvirkjun til a\u00f0 reisa og reka vatnsaflsvirkjun vi\u00f0 K\u00e1rahnj\u00faka me\u00f0 allt a\u00f0 750 MW afli.[49]<\/a><\/p>\n

3.2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Leyfisveitingarferli\u00f0 vegna K\u00e1rahnj\u00fakavirkjunar \u2013 frumvarpi\u00f0 til me\u00f0fer\u00f0ar \u00e1 Al\u00feingi<\/p>\n

\u00cd samr\u00e6mi vi\u00f0 framangreint var frumvarp um virkjun J\u00f6kuls\u00e1r \u00e1 Br\u00fa og J\u00f6kuls\u00e1r \u00ed Flj\u00f3tsdal og st\u00e6kkun Kr\u00f6fluvirkjunar lagt fram \u00e1 Al\u00feingi 12. febr\u00faar 2002 og sam\u00feykkt um tveimur m\u00e1nu\u00f0um s\u00ed\u00f0ar sem l\u00f6g nr. 38\/2002. \u00cd umr\u00e6\u00f0um um m\u00e1li\u00f0 m\u00e1tti sj\u00e1 a\u00f0 \u00fear v\u00f3gust \u00e1 efnahagslegir og umhverfishagsmunir. \u00deannig mat \u00dej\u00f3\u00f0hagsstofnun \u00e1hrif virkjana og \u00e1lvers Rey\u00f0ar\u00e1ls \u00e1 Rey\u00f0arfir\u00f0i \u00e1 \u00fej\u00f3\u00f0arb\u00fai\u00f0 me\u00f0 \u00feeim h\u00e6tti a\u00f0 \u00fej\u00f3\u00f0arframlei\u00f0sla myndi aukast um 1%, landsframlei\u00f0sla um allt a\u00f0 1,5% og \u00fatflutningur um 14%.[50]<\/a> \u00c1 m\u00f3ti kom gagnr\u00fdni \u00e1 framkv\u00e6mdirnar vegna \u00feeirra miklu neikv\u00e6\u00f0u \u00e1hrifa sem \u00fe\u00e6r hef\u00f0u \u00e1 umhverfi\u00f0.<\/p>\n

Umsagnir sem b\u00e1rust Al\u00feingi vi\u00f0 me\u00f0fer\u00f0 frumvarpsins g\u00e1fu \u00e1g\u00e6ta mynd af afst\u00f6\u00f0u til virkjunarframkv\u00e6mdanna vi\u00f0 K\u00e1rahnj\u00faka. Alls b\u00e1rst Al\u00feingi 41 ums\u00f6gn, en \u00ed h\u00f3pi \u00feeirra sem \u00fe\u00e6r sendu voru stofnanir, samt\u00f6k (fern n\u00e1tt\u00faruverndarsamt\u00f6k), fyrirt\u00e6ki, n\u00edu sveitarf\u00e9l\u00f6g og samt\u00f6k \u00feeirra og tveir einstaklingar.[51]<\/a> Almennt voru umsagnir \u00feeirra fj\u00f6gurra sveitarf\u00e9laga \u00e1 sv\u00e6\u00f0inu sem sendu inn umsagnir \u00e1 j\u00e1kv\u00e6\u00f0um n\u00f3tum. \u00deannig l\u00fdstu b\u00e6jarr\u00e1\u00f0 Austur-H\u00e9ra\u00f0s og b\u00e6jarstj\u00f3rn Fjar\u00f0abygg\u00f0ar yfir stu\u00f0ningi vi\u00f0 \u00e1formin. Ums\u00f6gn sveitarstj\u00f3rnar Flj\u00f3tsdalshrepps[52]<\/a> um frumvarpi\u00f0 var mikilv\u00e6g en virkjunin, \u00fe.e. mi\u00f0lunarl\u00f3n, mi\u00f0lunarg\u00f6ng, aflv\u00e9lar og st\u00f6\u00f0varh\u00fas, er \u00ed Flj\u00f3tsdalshreppi og Nor\u00f0ur-H\u00e9ra\u00f0i. Nor\u00f0ur-H\u00e9ra\u00f0, sem var sameina\u00f0 Austur-H\u00e9ra\u00f0i og Fellahreppi \u00e1ri\u00f0 2004, var einna helst gagnr\u00fdni\u00f0 \u00e1 framkv\u00e6mdina. \u00cd ums\u00f6gn \u00feess er \u00fev\u00ed l\u00fdst a\u00f0 \u00e1hrif virkjunarinnar ver\u00f0i mj\u00f6g mikil \u00ed sveitarf\u00e9laginu. Fjalla\u00f0 er um \u00e1hrifin af framkv\u00e6mdunum \u00e1 umhverfi og m.a. rakin \u00e1hrifin af uppist\u00f6\u00f0ul\u00f3ni og a\u00f0 J\u00f6kuls\u00e1 \u00e1 Dal muni hverfa \u00far farvegi s\u00ednum \u00ed sveitarf\u00e9laginu.[53]<\/a><\/p>\n

Samt\u00f6k \u00edslenskra sveitarf\u00e9laga og Samband sveitarf\u00e9laga \u00e1 Austurlandi voru me\u00f0m\u00e6lt frumvarpinu.[54]<\/a> \u00cd ums\u00f6gn orku- og st\u00f3ri\u00f0junefndar Sambands sveitarf\u00e9laga \u00e1 Austurlandi[55]<\/a> var \u00fev\u00ed fagna\u00f0 hve mikil \u00e1hersla hef\u00f0i veri\u00f0 l\u00f6g\u00f0 \u00e1 vanda\u00f0 umhverfismat, n\u00e1i\u00f0 samstarf framkv\u00e6mdaa\u00f0ila virkjunar og \u00e1lvers \u00e1samt stj\u00f3rnv\u00f6ldum vi\u00f0 hluta\u00f0eigandi sveitarf\u00e9l\u00f6g, stofnanir sveitarf\u00e9laga \u00ed landshlutanum og fer\u00f0a\u00fej\u00f3nustusamt\u00f6k \u00e1 Austurlandi. \u00dea\u00f0 hef\u00f0i gert hinu austfirska samf\u00e9lagi betur kleift a\u00f0 undirb\u00faa sig fyrir \u00fe\u00e6r breytingar sem framkv\u00e6mdirnar hef\u00f0u \u00ed f\u00f6r me\u00f0 s\u00e9r. Einnig kom fram a\u00f0 bygging \u00e1lvers og virkjunar myndi hafa mikil og j\u00e1kv\u00e6\u00f0 samf\u00e9lagsleg \u00e1hrif \u00e1 Austurlandi og vera mikilv\u00e6g fyrir \u00fej\u00f3\u00f0arb\u00fai\u00f0. Virkjunarframkv\u00e6mdir og bygging \u00e1lvers \u00e1 Austurlandi v\u00e6ri \u00e1n efa \u201est\u00e6rsta bygg\u00f0aa\u00f0ger\u00f0 sem \u00edslensk stj\u00f3rnv\u00f6ld eigi m\u00f6guleika \u00e1 a\u00f0 r\u00e1\u00f0ast \u00ed.\u201c[56]<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00de\u00e1 l\u00fdstu AS\u00cd og Samt\u00f6k i\u00f0na\u00f0arins einnig yfir stu\u00f0ningi s\u00ednum vi\u00f0 framkv\u00e6mdirnar[57]<\/a>, en \u00feau s\u00ed\u00f0arnefndu s\u00f6g\u00f0u n\u00fdtingu fallvatna og annarra n\u00e1tt\u00faruau\u00f0linda til atvinnuuppbyggingar vera b\u00e6\u00f0i sj\u00e1lfsag\u00f0a og e\u00f0lilega, enda v\u00e6ri vel g\u00e6tt a\u00f0 nau\u00f0synlegu jafnv\u00e6gi milli ar\u00f0semi og umhverfis\u00e1hrifa.<\/p>\n

Hj\u00e1 \u00feeim n\u00e1tt\u00faruverndarsamt\u00f6kum sem sendu ums\u00f6gn kva\u00f0 vi\u00f0 annan t\u00f3n. Landvernd m\u00e6lti gegn framkv\u00e6mdunum \u00fear sem umhverfis\u00e1hrif K\u00e1rahnj\u00fakavirkjunar v\u00e6ru umtalsver\u00f0 en \u00fea\u00f0 hef\u00f0i veri\u00f0 sta\u00f0fest \u00ed \u00farskur\u00f0i umhverfisr\u00e1\u00f0herra um mat \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum.[58]<\/a> \u00de\u00e1 m\u00f3tm\u00e6ltu N\u00e1tt\u00faruverndarsamt\u00f6k Austurlands[59]<\/a> \u00feeirri ni\u00f0urst\u00f6\u00f0u umhverfisr\u00e1\u00f0herra fr\u00e1 20. desember 2001 a\u00f0 leyfa virkjunina me\u00f0 skilyr\u00f0um. \u00dea\u00f0 sama ger\u00f0u N\u00e1tt\u00faruverndarsamt\u00f6k Vesturlands[60]<\/a> en \u00feau t\u00f6ldu a\u00f0 t\u00e6past v\u00e6ri h\u00e6gt \u201ea\u00f0 \u00edmynda s\u00e9r st\u00f3rfelldari r\u00f6skun af mannav\u00f6ldum \u00e1 n\u00e1tt\u00faru landsins.\u201c<\/p>\n

Samkv\u00e6mt l\u00f6gunum var Landsvirkjun veitt virkjunarleyfi til a\u00f0 reisa og reka vatnsaflsvirkjun \u00ed Flj\u00f3tsdal me\u00f0 allt a\u00f0 750 MW afli og virkja til \u00feess vatnsf\u00f6llin J\u00f6kuls\u00e1 \u00e1 Br\u00fa og J\u00f6kuls\u00e1 \u00ed Flj\u00f3tsdal \u00ed tveimur \u00e1f\u00f6ngum (K\u00e1rahnj\u00fakavirkjun). Virkjunin sj\u00e1lf var svo gangsett fimm \u00e1rum s\u00ed\u00f0ar, e\u00f0a \u00e1ri\u00f0 2007. \u00deau sveitarf\u00e9l\u00f6g sem m\u00e1li\u00f0 heyr\u00f0i undir g\u00e1fu svo \u00fat nokkur framkv\u00e6mdaleyfi hausti\u00f0 2002, \u00fea\u00f0 fyrsta \u00ed \u00e1g\u00fast 2002 en hluta\u00f0eigandi sveitarf\u00e9l\u00f6g veittu framkv\u00e6mdarleyfi fyrir virkjuninni 2. febr\u00faar 2003.[61]<\/a> Framkv\u00e6mdir vegna \u00e1lversins v\u00f6ktu hins vegar upp mun minni deilur og umr\u00e6\u00f0ur heldur en virkjunarframkv\u00e6mdirnar, eins og fj\u00f6ldi athugasemda vegna matssk\u00fdrslu bar me\u00f0 s\u00e9r.[62]<\/a><\/p>\n

3.3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Stu\u00f0ningur vi\u00f0 framkv\u00e6mdirnar<\/p>\n

Sko\u00f0anakannanir sem ger\u00f0ar voru \u00e1 \u00feessum t\u00edma s\u00fdndu a\u00f0 fleiri studdu virkjunarframkv\u00e6mdirnar \u00e1 landsv\u00edsu en voru \u00e1 m\u00f3ti.[63]<\/a> \u00de\u00e1 var andsta\u00f0an vi\u00f0 framkv\u00e6mdirnar meiri me\u00f0al Reykv\u00edkinga, en \u00e1ri\u00f0 2005 var ger\u00f0 sko\u00f0anak\u00f6nnun sem s\u00fdndi a\u00f0 r\u00e9tt r\u00famlega helmingur \u00feeirra hef\u00f0i veri\u00f0 \u00e1 m\u00f3ti henni en t\u00e6plega 40% fylgjandi.[64]<\/a> Hins vegar t\u00f6ldu um 40% \u00e1 landsv\u00edsu a\u00f0 rangt hef\u00f0i veri\u00f0 a\u00f0 r\u00e1\u00f0ast \u00ed framkv\u00e6mdina, en um helmingur e\u00f0a 50% \u00fej\u00f3\u00f0arinnar var fylgjandi henni.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Breytt m\u00e1lsme\u00f0fer\u00f0 – leyfisveitingarvaldi\u00f0 f\u00e6rt til framkv\u00e6mdarvaldsins<\/strong><\/p>\n

L\u00edklega hefur engin virkjunarframkv\u00e6md \u00e1 \u00cdslandi valdi\u00f0 vi\u00f0l\u00edka deilum og umr\u00e6\u00f0um \u00ed \u00edslensku samf\u00e9lagi og K\u00e1rahnj\u00fakavirkjun, e\u00f0a eins og oddviti Flj\u00f3tsdalshrepps l\u00fdsti \u00ed vi\u00f0tali[65]<\/a>: \u201e\u00d3h\u00e6tt er a\u00f0 fullyr\u00f0a a\u00f0 engin \u00f6nnur framkv\u00e6md hafi n\u00e1nast veri\u00f0 \u00ed beinni \u00fatsendingu til \u00fej\u00f3\u00f0arinnar fr\u00e1 upphafi til enda.\u201c Lei\u00f0a m\u00e1 l\u00edkum a\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 andsta\u00f0a r\u00edkisstj\u00f3rnarinnar vi\u00f0 a\u00f0 fram f\u00e6ri umhverfismat \u00ed samr\u00e6mi vi\u00f0 h\u00e1v\u00e6ra kr\u00f6fu \u00fear um hafi hert \u00fe\u00e6r enn frekar og \u00fev\u00ed var \u00e1kv\u00f6r\u00f0un Landsvirkjunar um a\u00f0 r\u00e1\u00f0ast \u00ed mat \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum \u00ed samr\u00e6mi vi\u00f0 \u00fe\u00e1gildandi l\u00f6g um mat \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum mikilv\u00e6g til a\u00f0 stu\u00f0la a\u00f0 aukinni s\u00e1tt um framkv\u00e6mdirnar. \u00dear me\u00f0 var almenningi lj\u00e1\u00f0 r\u00f6dd og honum gert kleift a\u00f0 koma a\u00f0 athugasemdum og sj\u00f3narmi\u00f0um.[66]<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00cd kj\u00f6lfar a\u00f0ildar a\u00f0 EES og deilnanna vegna K\u00e1rahnj\u00fakavirkjunar t\u00f3k m\u00e1lsme\u00f0fer\u00f0 vegna virkjunarleyfa hins vegar grundvallarbreytingum \u00e1ri\u00f0 2003 \u00feegar veiting virkjunarleyfis var f\u00e6r\u00f0 fr\u00e1 l\u00f6ggjafarvaldinu til framkv\u00e6mdarvaldsins me\u00f0 n\u00fdjum raforkul\u00f6gum nr. 65\/2003.[67]<\/a> Fyrst um sinn var leyfisveitingin hj\u00e1 r\u00e1\u00f0herra en s\u00ed\u00f0ar var h\u00fan f\u00e6r\u00f0 til Orkustofnunar sem n\u00fa veitir leyfi til a\u00f0 reisa og reka raforkuver, sbr. 4. gr. raforkulaga, \u00feegar um er a\u00f0 r\u00e6\u00f0a virkjanir sem eru yfir 1 MW.[68]<\/a> Umr\u00e6dd breyting var tengd \u00e1formum um a\u00f0 vinnsla \u00e1 raforku yr\u00f0i frj\u00e1ls fr\u00e1 1. j\u00fal\u00ed 2003 og \u00fev\u00ed yr\u00f0i raforkuframlei\u00f0sla h\u00e1\u00f0 samkeppni.[69]<\/a><\/p>\n

St\u00e6rstu vatnsaflsvirkjanirnar sem hafa veri\u00f0 reistar samkv\u00e6mt n\u00fagildandi m\u00e1lsme\u00f0fer\u00f0 eru B\u00fa\u00f0arh\u00e1lsvirkjun (2014), 95 MW,[70]<\/a> og B\u00farfell II (2018), 100 MW.[71]<\/a> Til samanbur\u00f0ar er uppsett afl B\u00farfellsst\u00f6\u00f0var (1969) 270 MW, en \u00fea\u00f0 var st\u00e6rsta vatnsaflsvirkjun sem reist haf\u00f0i veri\u00f0 fram a\u00f0 K\u00e1rahnj\u00fakavirkjun.[72]<\/a> Vatnsaflsst\u00f6\u00f0var af st\u00e6r\u00f0argr\u00e1\u00f0u B\u00farfellsvirkjunar og K\u00e1rahnj\u00fakavirkjunar eru hins vegar ekki \u00ed undirb\u00faningi, og raunar er \u00f3l\u00edklegt a\u00f0 r\u00e1\u00f0ist ver\u00f0i \u00ed svo st\u00f3rar virkjunarframkv\u00e6mdir \u00ed n\u00e1inni framt\u00ed\u00f0.[73]<\/a><\/p>\n

St\u00e6rstu vatnsaflsvirkjanirnar sem eru n\u00fa \u00ed undirb\u00faningi eru Hval\u00e1rvirkjun, 55 MW, og Hvammsvirkjun, 95 MW. Virkjanir me\u00f0 uppsettu afli minna en 10 MW eru hins vegar ekki matsskyldar en eru tilkynningaskyldar til Skipulagsstofnunar sem tekur \u00fe\u00e1 \u00e1kv\u00f6r\u00f0un um matsskyldu \u00feeirra, sbr. 19. gr. skipulagslaga, og eru nokkrar sl\u00edkar \u00ed undirb\u00faningi.[74]<\/a><\/p>\n

4.1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ramma\u00e1\u00e6tlun – a\u00f0koma Al\u00feingis trygg\u00f0 a\u00f0 n\u00fdju<\/p>\n

\u00dea\u00f0 lei\u00f0 hins vegar ekki langur t\u00edmi fr\u00e1 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 leyfisveitingarvaldi\u00f0 var f\u00e6rt fr\u00e1 Al\u00feingi til r\u00e1\u00f0herra \u00e1ri\u00f0 2003, og s\u00ed\u00f0ar Orkustofnunar, uns nau\u00f0synlegt \u00fe\u00f3tti a\u00f0 f\u00e1 Al\u00feingi l\u00f6gbundi\u00f0 hlutverk \u00ed leyfisveitingarferlinu a\u00f0 n\u00fdju. Tilgangurinn var a\u00f0 koma virkjunarm\u00e1lum \u00far \u00feeim \u00e1takafarvegi sem \u00feau hef\u00f0u veri\u00f0 \u00ed me\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 tryggja betur a\u00f0komu Al\u00feingis vi\u00f0 val \u00e1 orkun\u00fdtingarkosti. [75]<\/a> \u00deannig myndu \u201e\u00e1kvar\u00f0anir sem eru n\u00fa alfari\u00f0 hj\u00e1 stj\u00f3rnv\u00f6ldum f\u00e6rast a\u00f0 \u00e1kve\u00f0nu marki til Al\u00feingis \u00ed formi almennrar stefnum\u00f6rkunar.\u201c[76]<\/a><\/p>\n

Ramma\u00e1\u00e6tlun sem var innleidd me\u00f0 l\u00f6gum nr. 48\/2011, um verndar- og orkun\u00fdtingar\u00e1\u00e6tlun, f\u00f3l \u00ed s\u00e9r talsver\u00f0ar breytingar \u00e1 m\u00e1lsme\u00f0fer\u00f0inni. Al\u00feingi var fali\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 hlutverk \u201ea\u00f0 m\u00f3ta framt\u00ed\u00f0arstefnum\u00f6rkun um n\u00fdtingu virkjunarkosta\u201c og skyldi \u00fea\u00f0 byggja \u00e1 umfj\u00f6llun verkefnisstj\u00f3rnar ramma\u00e1\u00e6tlunar. Til a\u00f0 stu\u00f0la a\u00f0 s\u00e1tt um \u00e1kvar\u00f0anir um orkuvinnslu \u00ed framt\u00ed\u00f0inni \u00e1tti Al\u00feingi a\u00f0 taka afst\u00f6\u00f0u til tillagnanna \u00e1samt \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 m\u00f3ta \u201elangt\u00edmastefnu um vernd og n\u00fdtingu h\u00e1hitasv\u00e6\u00f0a og landsv\u00e6\u00f0a \u00fear sem er a\u00f0 finna virkjunarkosti fallvatna.\u201c[77]<\/a> Undirb\u00faningur vegna ramma\u00e1\u00e6tlunar haf\u00f0i \u00fe\u00e1 sta\u00f0i\u00f0 yfir fr\u00e1 \u00e1rinu 1999, er fyrsta verkefnisstj\u00f3rn ramma\u00e1\u00e6tlunar var skipu\u00f0.[78]<\/a> Ferli\u00f0 yr\u00f0i me\u00f0 \u00feeim h\u00e6tti a\u00f0 r\u00e1\u00f0herra leg\u00f0i eigi sjaldnar en \u00e1 fj\u00f6gurra \u00e1ra fresti fram \u00feings\u00e1lyktunartill\u00f6gu um vernd og orkun\u00fdtingu landsv\u00e6\u00f0a a\u00f0 undangengnu umsagnarferli, sbr. 10. gr. laganna, til sam\u00feykkis Al\u00feingis.[79]<\/a> \u00deetta var m.a. r\u00f6kstutt enn frekar me\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 illa f\u00e6ri \u00e1 \u00fev\u00ed \u201ea\u00f0 hafa langa upptalningu \u00e1 virkjunarkostum \u00ed l\u00f6ggj\u00f6f, auk \u00feess sem allar breytingar sem gera \u00feyrfti \u00e1 \u00e1\u00e6tluninni v\u00e6ru ger\u00f0ar \u00f3\u00fearflega fl\u00f3knar og \u00feunglamalegar.\u201c<\/p>\n

\u00a0M\u00e1lsme\u00f0fer\u00f0in sem l\u00f6gin m\u00e6ltu fyrir um s\u00e6tti hins vegar flj\u00f3tt gagnr\u00fdni fyrir a\u00f0 vera \u00feunglamaleg og fl\u00f3kin.[80]<\/a> \u00c1st\u00e6\u00f0an var m.a. rakin til m\u00e1lsme\u00f0fer\u00f0ar \u00e1 dr\u00f6gum verkefnisstj\u00f3rnar a\u00f0 till\u00f6gum um flokkun virkjunarkosta og afm\u00f6rkun virkjunar- og verndarsv\u00e6\u00f0a sem skyldu m.a. augl\u00fdst. \u00de\u00e1 hef\u00f0i h\u00fan ekki n\u00e1\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed h\u00f6fu\u00f0markmi\u00f0i a\u00f0 skapa s\u00e1tt um virkjunarframkv\u00e6mdir.[81]<\/a> \u00dev\u00ed var lagt til \u00e1 \u00e1rinu 2024, \u00ed sk\u00fdrslu starfsh\u00f3ps umhverfis-, orku- og loftslagsr\u00e1\u00f0herra, a\u00f0 ger\u00f0ar yr\u00f0u umtalsver\u00f0ar breytingar \u00e1 l\u00f6gunum til a\u00f0 vi\u00f0halda skilvirkni og sk\u00fdrleika.[82]<\/a><\/p>\n

4.2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00de\u00e1tttaka almennings og l\u00f6g um mat \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum, nr. 106\/2000 og 111\/2021<\/p>\n

Til a\u00f0 undirstrika \u00fe\u00e1ttt\u00f6kur\u00e9tt almennings hefur markvisst veri\u00f0 unni\u00f0 a\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 styrkja hann vi\u00f0 heildarendursko\u00f0un \u00e1 l\u00f6gum um umhverfismat, fyrst \u00e1ri\u00f0 2000[83]<\/a> og aftur \u00e1ri\u00f0 2021.[84]<\/a> Til a\u00f0 mynda var a\u00f0gengi almennings a\u00f0 matssk\u00fdrslu og \u00farskur\u00f0i Skipulagsstofnunar auki\u00f0 me\u00f0 l\u00f6gunum fr\u00e1 \u00e1rinu 2000, svo og m\u00f6guleikar hans til a\u00f0 hafa \u00e1hrif \u00e1 ni\u00f0urst\u00f6\u00f0u \u00farskur\u00f0ar Skipulagsstofnunar um mat \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum.[85]<\/a> \u00cd n\u00fdlegum l\u00f6gum nr. 111\/2021 um umhverfismat framkv\u00e6mda og \u00e1\u00e6tlana var \u00fe\u00e1ttt\u00f6kur\u00e9ttur almennings og annarra hagsmunaa\u00f0ila enn betur trygg\u00f0ur svo samr\u00e6mdist sem best \u00e1kv\u00e6\u00f0um \u00c1r\u00f3sasamningsins.[86]<\/a> Hvoru tveggja, a\u00f0koma Al\u00feingis og almennings a\u00f0 virkjunar\u00e1formum, er \u00ed samr\u00e6mi vi\u00f0 markmi\u00f0 um a\u00f0 \u00e1kvar\u00f0anir um st\u00f3rar framkv\u00e6mdir s\u00e9u teknar me\u00f0 l\u00fd\u00f0r\u00e6\u00f0islegum h\u00e6tti.<\/p>\n

4.3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hvammsvirkjun og leyfisveitingarferli\u00f0[87]<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

Eins og fram er komi\u00f0 hefur \u00ed seinni t\u00ed\u00f0 veri\u00f0 reynt a\u00f0 gr\u00edpa til a\u00f0ger\u00f0a til a\u00f0 sem mest s\u00e1tt r\u00edki um virkjunarframkv\u00e6mdir. Virkjunarframkv\u00e6mdir vegna Hvammsvirkjunar sem Landsvirkjun hyggst reisa \u00ed ne\u00f0ri hluta \u00dej\u00f3rs\u00e1r eru me\u00f0al \u00feeirra framkv\u00e6mda sem valdi\u00f0 hafa hva\u00f0 mestum \u00e1greiningi s\u00ed\u00f0ustu \u00e1r, en n\u00fdlega var gefi\u00f0 \u00fat virkjunarleyfi vegna hennar. Gagnr\u00fdnt hefur veri\u00f0 hversu langt og \u00f3skilvirkt leyfisveitingarferli\u00f0 hefur veri\u00f0.<\/p>\n

Fyrstu a\u00f0ger\u00f0ir vegna umhverfismats Hvammsvirkjunar h\u00f3fust \u00e1 \u00e1rinu 2003, er Landsvirkjun sendi matssk\u00fdrslu til Skipulagsstofnunar sem f\u00e9llst \u00e1 framkv\u00e6mdina sama \u00e1r og var \u00farskur\u00f0ur hennar sta\u00f0festur af umhverfisr\u00e1\u00f0herra \u00e1ri\u00f0 2004.[88]<\/a> Nokkur t\u00edmi lei\u00f0 og \u00e1ri\u00f0 2015 \u00f3sku\u00f0u sveitarf\u00e9l\u00f6gin Rang\u00e1r\u00feing ytra og Skei\u00f0a- og Gn\u00fapverjahreppur[89]<\/a> eftir \u00fev\u00ed vi\u00f0 Skipulagsstofnun a\u00f0 h\u00fan \u00e1kvar\u00f0a\u00f0i hvort nau\u00f0synlegt v\u00e6ri a\u00f0 endursko\u00f0a matssk\u00fdrslu Landsvirkjunar vegna Hvammsvirkjunar \u00e1\u00f0ur en framkv\u00e6mdaleyfi yr\u00f0i veitt. \u00de\u00e1 voru li\u00f0in meira en t\u00edu \u00e1r fr\u00e1 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 \u00e1lit stofnunar um umhverfismat l\u00e1 fyrir og framkv\u00e6mdir ekki hafnar.<\/p>\n

Hinn 16. desember 2015 komst Skipulagsstofnun a\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 skyldi gert a\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed er var\u00f0a\u00f0i tiltekinn hluta hennar. Ni\u00f0urst\u00f6\u00f0u hennar var v\u00edsa\u00f0 til \u00farskur\u00f0arnefndar umhverfis- og au\u00f0lindam\u00e1la sem sta\u00f0festi hana me\u00f0 \u00farskur\u00f0um s\u00ednum uppkve\u00f0num 15. febr\u00faar 2018.[90]<\/a> \u00cd samr\u00e6mi vi\u00f0 \u00fea\u00f0 lag\u00f0i Landsvirkjun fram frummatssk\u00fdrslu um Hvammsvirkjun \u00e1ri\u00f0 2017 sem fallist var \u00e1 \u00ed \u00e1liti Skipulagsstofnunar \u00ed mars 2018, \u00fe.e. stofnunin taldi a\u00f0 h\u00fan uppfyllti skilyr\u00f0i laga um mat \u00e1 umhverfis\u00e1hrifum og umhverfis\u00e1hrifum hef\u00f0i veri\u00f0 l\u00fdst \u00e1 fulln\u00e6gjandi h\u00e1tt.[91]<\/a><\/p>\n

Samhli\u00f0a \u00feessu var til me\u00f0fer\u00f0ar \u00e1 Al\u00feingi ramma\u00e1\u00e6tlun \u00fear sem tekin var \u00e1kv\u00f6r\u00f0un um a\u00f0 f\u00e6ra Hvammsvirkjun \u00ed orkun\u00fdtingarflokk \u00e1\u00e6tlunarinnar, en Al\u00feingi haf\u00f0i sett virkjunina ne\u00f0ri hluta \u00dej\u00f3rs\u00e1r \u00ed bi\u00f0flokk \u00ed ramma\u00e1\u00e6tlun \u00e1ri\u00f0 2013.[92]<\/a> S\u00ed\u00f0ar, e\u00f0a \u00e1ri\u00f0 2022, var h\u00fan sett \u00ed n\u00fdtingarflokk me\u00f0 \u00feings\u00e1lyktun Al\u00feingis.[93]<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00cd kj\u00f6lfar \u00feess a\u00f0 virkjunin var f\u00e6r\u00f0 \u00ed n\u00fdtingarflokk gaf Orkustofnun \u00fat virkjunarleyfi fyrir Hvammsvirkjun \u00ed desember 2022. Virkjunarleyfi\u00f0 var k\u00e6rt til \u00farskur\u00f0arnefndar umhverfis- og au\u00f0lindam\u00e1la \u00ed jan\u00faar 2023. Nefndin kva\u00f0 upp \u00farskur\u00f0 sinn 15. j\u00fan\u00ed 2023 og felldi leyfi\u00f0 \u00far gildi, \u00fear sem fulln\u00e6gjandi heimild til breytingar \u00e1 vatnshloti hef\u00f0i ekki legi\u00f0 fyrir vi\u00f0 \u00fatg\u00e1fu \u00feess \u00ed desember 2002. \u00darskur\u00f0urinn er mikilv\u00e6gur a\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed leyti a\u00f0 \u00ed honum fjalla\u00f0i nefndin s\u00e9rstaklega um \u00fe\u00e1 st\u00f6\u00f0u \u00feegar framkv\u00e6md er h\u00e1\u00f0 skilyr\u00f0um fleiri laga og eftir atvikum fleiri en eins stj\u00f3rnvalds og hva\u00f0 r\u00e9tt s\u00e9 a\u00f0 gera \u00ed \u00feeim tilvikum. Samkv\u00e6mt nefndinni yr\u00f0i \u00fe\u00e1 a\u00f0 telja a\u00f0 stj\u00f3rnv\u00f6ldum v\u00e6ri \u201ee\u00f0lilegt a\u00f0 eiga samr\u00e1\u00f0 um a\u00f0greiningu verkefna, skipulag m\u00e1lsme\u00f0fer\u00f0ar, \u00e1litsumleitanir o.fl.\u201c[94]<\/a><\/p>\n

Samkv\u00e6mt \u00feessu taldi nefndin a\u00f0 Orkustofnun hef\u00f0i veri\u00f0 e\u00f0lilegt a\u00f0 leita \u201eformlegra lei\u00f0beininga hj\u00e1 Umhverfisstofnun\u201c um hva\u00f0a kr\u00f6fur v\u00e6ru ger\u00f0ar til framkv\u00e6mdara\u00f0ila \u201eum l\u00fdsingu \u00e1 \u00e1standi vi\u00f0komandi vatnshlots og breytingar sem g\u00e6tu hlotist af framkv\u00e6mdum, umfram \u00fea\u00f0 sem v\u00e6ri raki\u00f0 \u00ed matssk\u00fdrslu framkv\u00e6mdar\u201c. \u00dear sem l\u00f6ggj\u00f6fin er \u00fe\u00f6gul um samr\u00e1\u00f0sskyldu af \u00feessu tagi m\u00e1 segja a\u00f0 nefndin hafi \u00e1kve\u00f0i\u00f0 a\u00f0 taka af skari\u00f0 um hana me\u00f0 v\u00edsan til \u00feess sem e\u00f0lilegt \u00a0hef\u00f0i veri\u00f0 vi\u00f0 \u00feessar a\u00f0st\u00e6\u00f0ur. Eitt leiddi af \u00f6\u00f0ru og \u00f3gilding virkjunarleyfisins var\u00f0 til \u00feess a\u00f0 framkv\u00e6mdaleyfi sem sveitarstj\u00f3rn Skei\u00f0a- og Gn\u00fapverjahrepps gaf \u00fat 14. j\u00fan\u00ed 2023 var fellt \u00far gildi me\u00f0 \u00farskur\u00f0i \u00farskur\u00f0arnefndar umhverfis- og au\u00f0lindam\u00e1la 26. okt\u00f3ber 2023 \u00e1 grundvelli forsendubrests.[95]<\/a><\/p>\n