The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it has screened the proposed construction of a Housing and Commercial Retail Land Deve-lopment project by Trinuyana Investments Inc.
In mid-2022, Trinuyana Investments Incorporated, a company comprising a consortium of Guyanese and Trinidadian investors, announced that it had signed a contract with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for the construction of a hotel. In January 2023, the company commenced works on the multimillion-dollar AC Marriott Hotel at Ogle, East Coast Demerara.
In a notice in the Guyana Chronicle yesterday, the EPA determined that, after screening the project which is located at Plot “JAI” in a portion of Plantation Ogle and Plantation Goedverwagting on the East Coast Demerara, it complies with Section 11(2) of the Environ-mental Protection Act, Cap. 20:05. The notice said that after careful consideration, the EPA has determined that the project will not significantly impact the environment and is therefore exempt from the requirement to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
The decision was made based on such factors as the assessment that air quality, noise and vibration, hazardous waste generation, and water quality impacts will be short-term, localized, and mitigable. Specifically, the EPA noted that particulate matter emissions from construction activities are expected to be primarily from vehicles and machinery, with measures such as dust control and water spraying systems in place to mitigate any potential impacts on air quality. Noise and vibration levels are also expected to be within acceptable limits during the construction phase, and hazardous waste will be managed in accordance with regulations.
The public notice stated that while the EPA’s decision does not indicate project approval, it does mean that an EIA is not required. The public, however, is reminded that they have the right to appeal the decision within thirty days of the publication of the notice. Appeals should be addressed to the Chairman of the Environmental Assessment Board via email at eabguyana21@gmail. com.
Interested parties are also encouraged to visit the EPA’s website at www.epaguyana.org for more information on the project.
