EPA tested after neighbours challenge Prospect auto workshop

Aug 27, 2017 News

The administration is getting tougher on noise nuisance and other environment issues, with a number of cases currently engaging a special task force that has started meeting.

Neighbours are clashing with the owner of a Prospect EBD auto workshop, who is seeking a permit to carry out operations.

Coordinated by the Ministry of Public Security, and involving a number of ministries and agencies, the task force has not ruled out recommending filing charges and even seizing of music systems as part of the efforts to sound a serious warning to defaulters.
One of the cases currently engaging the entity is an automobile spray shop at Prospect, East Bank Demerara.
Following a complaint, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Prohibition Notice to the owner of the shop in November 2013. However, it appeared that notice went unheeded. The owner continued operating his workshop.
EPA, via its director, Indarjit Ramdass, went to court in August 2014 before Judge William Ramlal, where the agency was successful in receiving an order enforcing the prohibition.
However, the workshop continued operating.
Earlier this month, angry neighbours – 14 of them – signed a petition, dispatching it to the Department of Environment, attention – Director Ndibi Schwiers.
What they claimed indicated a clear breakdown of the system and raises questions about EPA’s capacity to monitor.
According to the neighbours, the spray paint shop has been in existence over 15 years with the Prospect owner and workers doing nothing to contain the fumes of the paint. Some of the activities even take place in the street.
Neighbours said family members suffered terribly, particularly those suffering from asthmatic conditions. They were never told that a court order was issued in January 2015 to the businessman.
Despite the order, the man continued his operations until December 2015 when neighbours, armed with copies of the court order, informed him of the implications of ignoring it.
While the owner at first eased up his activities, the preparation of cars for spraying continued.
As a matter of fact, neighbours in their letter to the Department of Environment, said that vehicles were last sprayed last July.
The shop has now built an enclosure and has applied for permission from EPA to conduct spray painting operations.
According to the petitioners, the approval should not be granted.
The reasons are simple. The area has at least three schools, including a nursery nearby.
The neighbours said that regulations make it clear that any such operations should be located in a commercial or industrial area.
According to recent regulations, any new automobile spray painting shops should maintain buffer area of at least 50 metres from the nearest residence.
Because a court order had prohibited the workshop from operation, the neighbours argued that any application to EPA will have to be considered new. Therefore, it will be impossible for EPA to grant any approval.
Neighbours also claimed that the workshop is located less than 50 feet from the nearest residence.
In addition, they argued that the man’s track record of disregarding orders and having scant regard for nearby residents is testimony that the application to EPA should be rejected.

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