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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Jamaica Environment Trust requests a Public Consultation before JAMALCO Expansion goes ahead
Kingston Jamaica
September 27, 2004
The Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) is disturbed to read of the likely approval of the significant expansion to the JAMALCO alumina refinery at Hayes in Clarendon as reported in the Jamaica Observer of September 26th, 2004. While JET does not necessarily oppose the expansion per se, pollution abatement measures must be used in the plant to reduce harmful air emissions. In addition, the communities in the area of the plant who have long-standing complaints about air pollution, dust and noise must be properly consulted before a final decision is taken.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the JAMALCO expansion, conducted by Conrad Douglas and Associates, is available on the website of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and is also available at other locations around the island. The EIA outlines the Terms of Reference (TOR) given to the consultants by NEPA. However, JET found these TOR have not been complied with. Specific breaches included:
- Failure to include air quality data or the results of any air quality modeling done;
- No adequate abatement measures for the reduction of sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions;
- No information about potential health impacts of fuel combustion and emission before and during the operation phase;
- No assessment of the potential impact of a spill of raw material at Rocky Point Port and
- No information about how the project would impact long-term availability of clean water in the area, including potential impacts on the aquifer system around the area of the refinery.
JET attended a public meeting held at the Hayes Primary and Junior High School on August 4, 2004 and again there was no air quality or modeling data presented. Further, the public meeting was poorly organized, the type of presentation was inappropriate for the audience and the community expressed the view that they had not understood the presentation of the consultant. Some community members have written to NEPA requesting a delay in the decision until the community has had a chance to review the EIA properly and to benefit from a useful public consultation.
JET is also concerned that the use of air pollution abatement equipment is not being contemplated. For example, wet scrubbers would significantly reduce SO2 emissions. The use of low sulphur fuel is not sufficient. If the expansion is allowed to go ahead as planned, there is likely to be an increase in complaints of respiratory and other adverse health effects by residents in surrounding communities. These effects are typically more marked in children.
Further, the EIA did not contain an assessment of the impacts of the mining, because the locations of the mines were not stated. Environmental impacts cannot be assessed in unknown locations. Neither was the effect on the future residents on New Town adequately considered.
The National Environment and Planning Agency has the legal mandate to take such steps as are necessary to ensure the protection and proper use of Jamaica's natural resources, through the Natural Resources Conservation Act of 1991. JET requests NEPA to insist that the Terms of Reference given to the EIA consultants must be complied with. Most importantly, air quality data and modeling for this significant expansion must be presented to the public in an effective public consultation before a decision is made.
Contact:
Diana McCaulay / Akilah Anderson
Jamaica Environment Trust
11 Waterloo Road, Kingston 10
Phone: (876) 960-3693, 946-0674
Fax: (876) 926-0212
Email.
jamentrust@cwjamaica.com
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