The EPA does not require any studies for five projects dealing with hazardous oil and gas chemicals
– The Agency does not have the ability to test
By Shikema Dey
Kaieteur News – An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) can be defined as a critical tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project whether it may be for the construction of a plant or warehouse for industrial or chemical purposes. On completion, the document containing the environmental risks to the project would be assessed for approval by the relevant authorities.
Despite the importance of this critical report, the Guyana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been taking a position of not requiring EIAs for at least five projects that deal directly with the slaughter of hazardous chemicals used in the petroleum sector. Not only is the move scary for most industry advocates, but equally worrying is the fact that Guyana’s supposed environmental watchdog does not have the capacity to monitor the influx of chemicals that are supposed to increase as the sector expands.
In addition to the lack of basic capabilities such as human resources to assess simple environmental issues, the EPA also does not include simple tools to measure airborne pollutants.
As required, the EPA would issue public notices listing projects that require authorization. On those exact notifications for the projects in progress, the EPA stated: “In accordance with Section 11 (2) of the Environmental Protection Act, Cap 20:05, Guyana Laws, the application is for each project listed above has been screened by the agency to assess its potential environmental impacts and it has been decided that these projects will not have a significant impact on the environment or human health, and are therefore excluded from the requirement for an Impact Assessment Environmental (EIA). “
But without the tools needed to conduct tests or studies to determine the impact the project will have on the environment and surrounding environment, it is unclear how and why the EPA came to that conclusion.
Of the five projects, Glass Holdings Inc. was. planned to build a Chemical Storage and Warehouse Facility and Laydown Yard, at A3 & A4, Plantation Peter’s Hall, Demerara East Bank.
The company had outlined in its project summary that it intended to store chemicals such as Asphaltene Inhibitor, Corrosion Inhibitor, Biocide, Hydrate Inhibitor, Demulsifier, Chlorine Scavenger, Defoamer and Hydrate Inhibitor.
Then Ramps Logistics with the construction of an oilfield facility and container storage and transfer facility was supposed to store and process similar chemicals.
Oilfield Waste Management Services (OWMS) later announced plans to build a thermal adsorption waste treatment plant based on a thermal desorption separator (hammer mill) that uses friction to heat waste so that oil residues are evaporated.
Another form, Environmental Waste Services Services Guyana Inc., has planned the construction of a waste treatment facility (Bioremediation) in Lot 21 and 22 Block XXV111, Friendship Plantation, Demerara East Bank (EBD) to process mud sludge generated from oil based activities sector.
The most recent project to seek EPA approval is the John Fernandes Limited project in the construction of a Hazardous Materials Storage Facility at Plantation Fairfield, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD) to process and store Asphalttene, Corrosion Inhibitor, Biocide, Biocide Filter, Hydrate Inhibitor , Demulsifier, Chlorine Scavenger, Defoamer and Hydrate Inhibitors.
The common denominator in these projects was the fact that they would all be located close to residential housing areas and even in one case, close to a community fund.
Although the EPA sets out a 30 day period for lodging complaints and objections, the concerned residents would miss that deadline which only finds the small notice kept in the local newspapers weeks after that.
By then, the projects would be given a stamp of approval leaving residents to deal with whatever adverse effects follow.
Guyana’s response capability has already been tested in a big way after the “Rheduce” chemical spill at the Guyana National Industrial Company (GNIC) resulting in the EPA stopping chemicals being stored at the wharf.
A forklift pierced the container holding the chemical left at the facility for months after being imported by Schlumberger Guyana. Although the chemical did not cause any harm to the environment and human life, what was worrying about the incident was that the EPA was notified more than nine hours after the spill occurred.