Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Kemraj Parsram on Mon-day confirmed that his agency is currently reviewing Schlumberger Guyana Inc’s renewed application to operate a radioactive (RA) source storage and calibration facility at Houston on the East Bank of Demerara.
The new application came after the High Court issued an edict last Decem-ber against the operations, citing breaches by the EPA in the application of its governing Act.
Speaking briefly with Stabroek News on Monday, Parsram said the company acted in accordance with the December 2022 court order when it filed its new application.
Schlumberger’s attorney, Kyle Prescod said that the company, days after the court ruling, filed a new application with the EPA for the operation, storage and calibration of radioactive chemicals at its Houston location.
The new application has been met with strong resistance from residents and other stakeholders in close proximity to the operations.
Last week during a public engagement, despite its efforts to assure that the operation of a RA source storage and calibration would cause no harm, a group of residents of Hous-ton and nearby communities adamantly told representatives of Schlumberger Guyana Inc that they do not want the operation in their community.
Residents let it be known to the company that they are not pleased or convinced that the explanations given are sound. They said Schlumberger’s objective is making money and the explanations given are intended to make the company “look good.”
Since having been injuncted last year by the High Court from proceeding with the facility as there were breaches of the environmental laws, Schlumberger is now seeking to renew its efforts for approval for its operations. The EPA will now have to take account of the court ruling and the strenuous objections by residents.
Asked if Schlumberger is prepared to conduct an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), Prescod said the company is “in the hands of the regulators and whatever the regulators say is required we will have to respect and adhere to.”
He added that the EPA will have to determine whether the project requires an EIA or an updated and developed Environmental Assessment and Management Plan (EAMP). Nonetheless, he stated that the company has been executing their own assessment and monitoring of the facility to ensure that they are compliant with all international operating guidelines.
Justice Nareshwar Harnanan had in Decem-ber ruled that the EPA breached its statutory duty by issuing environmental permits to Schlumberger Guyana Inc and waiving the requirement for an EIA for the construction of a radioactive chemical facility. The judge noted that the EPA had not given reasons for its decision. As a result, Justice Harnanan ordered the quashing of the environmental permit issued by the EPA on June 9, 2021, in favour of Schlumberger to permit it to construct a radioactive substances and materials storage and calibration facility at Lot 1, Area X, Houston, on the East Bank of Demerara. The High Court judge also declared that the decision of the EPA to not conduct an environmental impact assessment into the effects of the construction of the facility was illegal, ultra vires, unreasonable, and irrational, for breaching the Environmental Protection Act, Cap.20:05.
