The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been in discussion with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Inc. to address concerns about the dust emissions from the bauxite operations in Wismar and says that a solution will be found shortly.

According to Doorga Persaud, the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, dust pollution coming from the bauxite plant has been a major concern of the agency for several years.  In a letter to this newspaper, Persaud said that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) had been done and measures were recommended to be implemented to address the dust problem.

These measures were issued to Cambior by the agency, Persaud said. He explained that based on this information the company had agreed to install a dust collection system, but said the company was sold without the required changes being made.  Cambior Inc was bought by IAMGOLD in November 2006.  IAMGOLD in turn, reached an agreement with the Chinese company Bosai in December 2006, and that company took over operations in March of 2007. The Executive Director stated that the responsibility for installing adequate dust collecting apparatus is now with the current owners, Bosai Minerals Group Inc.  He explained that based on the change of ownership, the extension of the deadline for its implementation had been increased.

However, the new owners had proposed a timeline extending to the end of 2009, which the EPA and the GGMC say is too late.  Consequently, a meeting was held between the EPA, GGMC and the bauxite company during which the revised deadline was discussed in detail.

During this meeting a visit to the operation site was also conducted. Last Friday was the agreed deadline for Bosai to submit the new deadline to the EPA. And while the installation is being awaited, the EPA has indicated that interim measures must be implemented to alleviate the dust problem.

Persaud added that if Bosai Minerals Group Incorporated fails to comply with the recommendations and requirements of the EPA, penalties could be instituted.

The letter was a response to one written by Elton McRae which appeared in the September 3rd edition of this newspaper. Mc Rae had written complaining about the dust problem, which he said has plagued the residents of Wismar since 1972.

He emphasised the serious health risks involved and mentioned that adequate solutions to these issues were found elsewhere and had called for the EPA to respond to the situation.