The Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) has written to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) upholding that body’s finding that an Environmental impact Assessment is not warranted for BK International’s sand mine at Yarrowkabra.
Bulkan Timber Works and Superior Shingles and Wood Products will be appealing the decision. This entity had appealed to the EPA to withhold permission for the sand mine to go ahead on the grounds that the development posed a health risk to the workers with the risk of their contracting silicosis, ground water contamination from heavy machinery, and dangers to nearby structures which could collapse because of the sand mine due to the triggering by distant seismic events. The EAB said that while these were thought to be real concerns, they were not sufficiently evidenced to warrant the requirement of an EIA.
The letter was dated May 20, 2013 and addressed to Executive Director of the EPA Dr. Indarjit Ramdass. “The EAB is cognisant of mitigation measures that could be applied to such a development and monitoring would be mandatory. It is therefore the decision of the EAB to uphold the EPA’s decision to issue a ‘No EIA Required’ Status for BK international Inc. to operate a small-scale sand mine located at Block B-56/MP/OOO Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke Linden Highway,” the EAB said in its letter.
The letter noted that the EAB had conducted a public hearing on May 9, 2013 but said that due to the disruptive nature of that meeting, there has been many unanswered questions remaining and a special meeting had to be convened on May 15, 2013 with the representatives of Bulkan Timber Works/Superior Shingles and Wood Products and BK International.
“The EAB in its deliberations took the following issues and documents into consideration: l. Statements made at the Public Hearing by the representatives from BK International Inc., representatives from Bulkan Timber Works and Superior Shingles and Wood Products Inc., representatives from EPA, Chairperson of the Yarrowkabra Community Development Council, Regional Chairman for Region 4, and Members of the General Public,” the letter said.
It said that fuller statements by the two businesses were also taken into consideration as were written statements by all stakeholders, the Environmental Protection Act No. 11(1996), the Code of Practice for Sand and Saprolite (Loam) Mining on the Soesdyke Linden Highway; and the Strategic Environmental Assessment of Mining in Guyana for Policy and Human Resource Development Grant.
The EAB said that the project would not significantly affect the environment since it is considered to be small scale by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the EPA. The proposed sand mine is approximately 7.8 hectares, the letter noted.
The letter cited precedence in coming to its decision, saying that it is the established practice of the EPA to assign a ‘No EIA Required’ status for sand mines of less than 60 acres.
It said that this is in accordance with the Code of Practice for Sand and Saprolite (Loam) Mining on the Soesdyke Linden Highway, Section 1.2, which states that “All sand/loam mines of over 60 acres must obtain Environmental Authorizations from EPA prior to being issued licences from GGMC.”
According to the letter, the area in which the proposed sand mine is located has been zoned for such activities with many small-scale sand mines already in operation in the approximate environs. “There is sufficient distance/area between the appellant’s property and the proposed sand mine to allow the establishment of a Buffer that would [militate] against the issues of airborne sand, noise and vibration. The appellant is solely responsible and liable for any structures that may not be structurally sound on his property,” it said.
Speaking to Stabroek News, George Bulkan said that he was disappointed with the EAB decision and will be seeking legal advice with a view to appealing it. “I am disappointed. The EAB is not following the Mining Act, which is very clear and which says there must be a minimum stance of 200 meters. The BK International sand mine is only 17 meters away from our operation,” he said.
Bulkan had earlier expressed the concern that if the sand mine were to be approved, then his business would have to close and it would put about 200 persons on the breadline. This, he said, would be in addition to a number of women who use the waste wood to make charcoal and make a living doing so.
