Pomeroon forestry projects among others seeking environmental authorisation

Four persons have submitted applications to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for authorisation to operate projects in various parts of the country.

The projects are exempt from submitting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the EPA said in an advertisement published in the May 12 Sunday Stabroek. The ad said that the agency received applications from Rakesh Samaroo, Roopan Ramotar, the Leonora Sunnatul Jamat and Krishna Singh.

Samaroo applied to construct a sawmill at Block 10 Plantation De Hoop, Supenaam River while Ramotar applied for forestry/logging concessions – ESS 01/9A 0 located at the Left Bank Patau Creek, Right Bank Pakasaru River, Right Bank Pomeroon, and ESS 02/9B located on the Left Bank Karani River, Right Bank Pomeroon River.

Singh applied to operate a poultry (broiler) farm which will be located at Alliance, Canal No 2 Polder, West Bank Demerara, while the Leonora Sunnatul Jamat applied to construct a facility to bathe and shroud the deceased at Sea Spray, Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

According to the ad, in accordance with Section 11 (2) of the Environmental Protection Act, the application for each project has been screened by the EPA to assess its potential environmental impacts and it has been determined that the projects will not significantly affect the environment, and therefore is exempt from the requirement for an EIA.

It added that in keeping with the EPA Act and the Environmental Protection (Authorisations) Regulations 2000, any person who may be affected by the project can lodge an appeal against the agency’s decision with the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) within 30 days of the publication of the notice.

Appeals and comments can be address-ed to the EAB on Ganges Street, Sophia, Georgetown or sent via e-mail to epa@epaguyana.org