EPA and Government playing with lives

Mar 15, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor

Kaieteur News – The Alliance For Change (AFC) is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider its decision that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is not necessary for a facility to operate and store equipment with radioactive sources to be used in the oil and gas industry. The facility is to be housed at Coverden, East Bank Demerara. This decision has highlighted once again, the failure of the EPA and the Government of Guyana to inform this nation of processes and procedures in place to dispose of radioactive waste.
Back in May of last year, the AFC had noted that the EPA was failing in its duty to inform citizens of the locations of treatment, storage and disposal (TSD) facilities in their neighbourhoods for the handling of highly toxic, hazardous, and radioactive waste and material generated by oil companies’ operations. Nothing has changed and the EPA continues to fail in its duty to the people of this country.
The facility at Coverden is a mere 100 feet away from the East Bank Demerara Public Road and 0.32 kilometres from the Demerara River. The compound also houses bonds for other companies in the oil and gas sector. This is a clear indication that numerous persons could likely be exposed .
The decision by the EPA that an EIA is not necessary, found on their website (https://www.epaguyana.org/epa/screening-decisions/download/29-screening/934-ndtl-screening-decision), notes that the primary risk of the project is radiation exposure and that “persons at risk to radiation exposure include radiation workers and other employees working nearby.” The EPA claims that radiation exposure is not significant and that adequate mitigation measures will be implemented. However, Guyanese will well remember the OMAI cyanide spill that was never supposed to happen, but did!
The EPA stated that mitigation measures are documented in the Radiation Safety Manual that was submitted along with the application and Project Summary. However, these documents are not available to the public. The EPA also states that the operator will have an emergency response plan and a traffic management plan. Neither of these is available to the public.
Residents and persons who traverse the East Bank Demerara Public Road know well the frustrations of that corridor. Will the movement of hazardous material compound and escalate these frustrations? What happens if there is an accident involving a vehicle transporting radioactive material of equipment? Citizens deserve and are entitled to answers to these questions. One would have thought that with the numerous uninhabited islands in the Essequibo River, one such would have been a more suitable location for any facility dealing with radioactive material and other hazardous waste. This development requires absolute care and consideration for the environment and the well-being of citizens by the EPA and as may be necessary considerable investment from the operator.
The AFC recognises that neither the EPA nor the Government will provide answers unless residents of the East Bank Demerara and other citizens demand answers. Lives are at risk.
Regards
Alliance For Change

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