Citizens object to EPA’s waiver of EIA for Wales power plant

Feb 12, 2023 News

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…argue that toxic gases from power plant can pose danger to life

Kaieteur News – A group of citizens have filed an objection to the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) against the decision by the Environmental protection Agency (EPA) to waive an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for a natural gas fired power plant, to be constructed at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

The power plant is a component of the Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project being developed by the Government of Guyana (GoG) and American oil major, ExxonMobil. The project entails transporting the natural resource via a pipeline, then separating and treating the gas via a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility which will then be used to power the 300 megawatts (MW) power plant in question.

The EPA in a public notice published on January 6, 2023 said the power plant, being pursued by the GoG will not require the study as, “The proposed location for this project falls within the area of influence/footprint of an EPA approved Gas to Energy Project (GTE) that was subjected to a comprehensive EIA, including a Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA). The CIA concluded that there will be no significant impacts from the combined activities/projects.”

The regulator also gave five other reasons for its decision.

Two citizens, Attorney-at-Law Elizabeth Deane-Hughes and environmental activist, Vanda Radzik in their letter of appeal to the EAB, dated February 5, 2023 said the project can cause serious impacts to lives and livelihoods, insisted that a sound EIA must inform the decision of the EPA to grant a Permit for the power plant. Fourteen other Guyanese also attached their signatures to the objection letter addressed to the EAB.

“Gas fired plants and NGL facilities and the pipelines that feed them are notoriously dangerous. People’s lives, livelihoods and lands are at risk. Toxic gases, chemicals and hazardous wastes are generated along with substantial emissions, flarings etc. that pollute the environment and affect the health of humans,” the citizens pointed out.

They noted that communities that burn fossil fuels emit sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX), particulate matter (PM), carbon dioxide (CO2), mercury (Hg), and other pollutants. These emissions they said contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone and fine PM, which can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular problems while exposure to mercury can increase the possibility of health issues ranging from cancer to immune system damage.

“The impacts of power plant emissions are not limited only to the areas near power plants. Publicising of such data and information-sharing concerning the adjacent communities can be used to raise awareness and to help people understand the extent to which there may be disproportionate, adverse impacts on overburdened communities,” the citizens said in their appeal.

They added, “Populations found to be particularly vulnerable to environmental pollution include the poor, the elderly, the very young, those already in poor health, and those with nutritional deficiencies.”

Methane, a fast-acting greenhouse gas with enormous short-term impacts on climate leaks at every stage of the natural gas production and transportation process, the appellants told the EAB.

In addition, they explained that explosions and fires related to gas fired power plants are frequent and regular, pointing to a number of recent mishap in Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States of America.

Even with such dangerous potential impacts, the group pointed out that there are no proposed mitigation measures, as the impacts have not been assessed independently.

The group pointed out that, “Section 21 Environmental Protection Act Cap 20:05 requires that the EPA issues a permit for “anything that may discharge or form part of the discharge of contaminants into any part of the natural environment”. Gas fired Power Plants discharge significant contaminants. On what basis was this legal requirement complied with?”

The concerned Guyanese also reasoned that the GTE project is likely to reach as much as US$3 billion. With government already announcing that a loan will be taken to finance part of the project, the activists said, “It is illogical, irrational capricious and without merit that the EPA would waive an EIA for such a substantial project without the benefit of independent and qualified scientific, economic and social analyses.”

Additionally, the citizens urged that the lack of a Gas Leak and/or Integrity Management Plan invalidates the EIA already done by ExxonMobil for the pipeline and NGL facility, upon which the EPA has based its waiver of an EIA for the gas plant.

The group ended their letter by registering their concern for what they referred to as “continued lawlessness by both Exxon’s operator- Esso Exploration and production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)- and the GoG.

“We are citizens of Guyana and are deeply concerned at the pattern of lawlessness that is evident in EEPGL’s operations and that of the Government of Guyana. In 2020 President Ali said, “We cannot lead in a way that is disrespectful to our country”. Yet EEPGL and other oil and gas companies, in collusion with the Government of Guyana have repeatedly shown contempt for the laws of Guyana and for our wellbeing and that of our fellow Guyanese. We demand that the Government of Guyana put the interests of the Guyanese people above all other interests,” they said.

In a brief statement to the media on Saturday, the appellants said that their submission to the EAB has not been acknowledged though delivered before the closing date for objections to the EPA’s decision.

They also noted that questions to the EPA and its Board of Directors remain unanswered regarding the construction and operation of the gas power plant.

“Further kindly be informed there has been no response from EPA, (Ministry of Natural Resources) MNRE and Office of the Attorney General about when the Environmental Appeals Tribunal (EAT) will be constituted. The EAT, an instrument under the Environmental Protection Act, is a necessity for appeal against environmental permits,” they noted.

The citizens also stated that the email address for submissions of appeals to EAB listed in the public notice in the newspaper publications is invalid and/or non-operative, as mails bounce back from the address.

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• appeal, EPA, gas, objection, power plant

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