THE Environmental Assessment Board (EAB), earlier this week, convened a public hearing at the Soesdyke/Huiste Coverden Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) office to hear appeals against the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) not to require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Global Oil Environmental Service (GOES) Waste Treatment Facility.
The EPA, in a press release issued on Wednesday, said the public hearing was convened to facilitate the views and submissions of the appellants, the developer and the EPA for consideration. A total of four appeals were submitted to the EAB within the statutory 30-day period in response to the decision published by the EPA on March 21, 2021. However, while the EAB is only required by law to conduct public hearings into the appeals submitted within the statutory period, accommodations were also made for the additional appeals which were submitted out of the prescribed time.
The release further stated that members of the public were invited to attend the hearing for which the statutory 14-day notice was published by the EAB on April 26, 2021.

Recognizing that the National COVID-19 Task Force had approved the conduct of the hearing at an outdoor venue with a maximum of 50 persons for two hours, the EAB also facilitated better participation and attendance by providing a Zoom link for members of the public to attend virtually. Due to technical difficulties posed by the outdoor venue and inclement weather conditions, the virtual platform was interrupted several times.
However, the EAB was able to fulfil the objectives of the hearing and has documented for resolution any outstanding questions and queries which could not be fully addressed at the close of the meeting. The release added that the EAB has also afforded the formal appellants the opportunity to submit the specific concerns, reasons and justifications surrounding their appeals within seven days and will endeavour to engage with the appellants further, if necessary, to ensure that these are addressed. The EPA was also asked to make its presentation, including the justifications for its decision, publicly available at its head office and on its website. Thereafter, the EAB will deliberate on its decision, for publication in the daily newspapers.
The proposed facility will involve the transfer, storage and treatment of exploration and production (E&P) oil and gas waste, at Block “X”, and Block 1, all being portions of Plantation T’ Huiste, Coverden, East Bank Demerara.