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Nov 06, 2012 News
Following complaints to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been directed to undertake investigations into the alleged dumping of sewage in the Princes Street Canal in Georgetown and in Bartica by Cevon’s Waste Management Inc. and Country Wide Disposal Services respectively.
According to the Ministry yesterday, resulting from the investigation, both companies were requested to obtain environmental authorisation for their operations.
This request came as a consequence of reports reaching the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the statement said.
The EPA investigation revealed that the complaint related to dumping at the Princess Street canal was unsubstantiated.
“However, the incident of sewage dumping at Bartica was substantiated although it was reportedly as a result of the sewage truck being stuck on the road. The EPA conducted an investigation this week regarding the complaint of dumping of sewage at the Princes Street Canal but observed that no dumping/disposal of sewage was being carried out in the area.”
According to the Ministry, this observation was confirmed by the pump attendant who resides in close proximity to the canal. The attendant told Environmental Officers that the closest canal to the Princes Street area that leads into the Demerara River was at Sussex Street.
As such, the Environmental Officers inspected the Sussex Street Canal and at the time of the inspection, there was a bad smell coming from the Canal.
“Further investigations revealed that persons would usually dump garbage and animal parts such as offal into the canal was causing odour nuisance. Speaking with a security guard in the area, the officers were told that no dumping of sewage had occurred at the canal.”
According to the statement, to conclude the investigation of the complaint of sewage dumping at Princes Street canal, Officers visited the Kingston outfall.
“However, at no time during the inspection was any truck from Cevon’s Waste Management observed in the area. Further, the EPA made contact via telephone contact with Cevon’s Waste Management Inc. and the Manager indicated that all sewage is dumped at the Kingston outfall and nowhere else within Georgetown.”
EPA also conducted a joint investigation with the Overseer of the Bartica Neighbourhood Democratic Council regarding the dumping of sewage by Countrywide Disposal Services along the Bartica/Potaro Road, Region Seven.
“Findings of the investigation revealed that the area where the sewage was dumped was densely vegetated and a small road running west of the Bartica/Potaro Road was cut through the area. The sewage had been dumped about six meters inwards, west of the Bartica/Potaro Road and south of the small road and a slight mal-odour was emanating from the area and some amount of sewage was visible.”
According to the Overseer, on the said day of the incident, sewage was seen overflowing on to the Bartica/Potaro Road, and that Countrywide Disposal Services informed the NDC and other officials who were present at the scene, that the truck got stuck along the road on the way back to Georgetown and that some of the sewage had to be discharged in order to move the truck.
“These two complaints on sewage dumping have prompted the agency to request both Cevon’s Waste Management Inc. and Country Wide Disposal Services to ensure that they obtain Environmental Authorization for their operations.”
The Ministry noted that Countrywide Disposal Services has submitted an application for Environmental Authorisation for their operation located at Aubrey Barker Street, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
According to the Ministry, the company is still to submit outstanding documents.
“In May this year, EPA conducted a site visit but cannot further process the application until the company submits outstanding documents.”
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