The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has waived the requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) pertaining to an oil and gas chemical storage facility at Prospect, East Bank Demerara by Itha-Ca Energy Partners (IEP) Inc.
According to an EPA public notice, reasons for this decision include that the project will not pose a threat to the physical, biological, and socioeconomic environment. It is not located within an environmentally sensitive area, the notice stated, and the project summary provided highlighted the necessary safety precautions to be taken against soil, air, and noise pollution that could occur because of the project.
In the project summary submitted to the EPA, the IEP said that the proposed warehouse facility would be used for the storage and transport of cement, barite, salt, and sodium chloride. These items, which are needed by the oil and gas industry for the downhole drilling of crude oil, will be imported from abroad and stored in their original packages until the time for transport to the client.
With regard to storage, the proposal stated that the products are stored in 1.5-ton bags and housed in a dry place within the facility. The IEP noted that the proposed warehouse would provide storage for 5,000 tons of barite, 1,000 tons of salt, and 5,000 tons of cement on a monthly basis.
Safety measures that the company highlighted include the ready availability and provision of safety glasses or dust-tight goggles; rubber, cloth, or plastic gloves; safety shoes; and NIOSH dust respirators. Additionally, visible signs against inhaling dust/fume/gas/mist/vapors/spray will be installed, the summary stated. These measures will be in place for both employees and visitors, it added.
The company also said that the project investment cost was US$4.5 million. The IEP facility is expected to house 10 employees and the project is expected to last for 20 to 25 years.
