EPA to step up enforcement activities

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says it will continue to monitor three operations it had previously sanctioned and others to ensure the owners are taking steps towards safe environmental practices and will step up enforcement activities this year.

In November 2018, the agency served Prohibition Notices to Kishan Dos Santos of Lot 60 Voorzigtigheid, Mahaica; David Sital of Lot 5, Centre View Lusignan and Prem Balmacoon of Lot 198 Phase One Good Hope. Residents had complained of odour nuisance caused by the improper disposal of waste that was generated from the facilities. In a statement, the EPA said that inspections revealed that the swine and poultry rearing operations at the three facilities posed a severe risk to public health and the environment.

The statement said that since the visit, one operator has removed the chickens from his residence while another visited the EPA seeking guidance on implementing compliance measures.

The agency conducted follow-up visits on Christmas Eve and warned that no operation or business is above the law and therefore they should seek the EPA’s advice on compliance and best practices

“As a regulatory body, the EPA is stepping up its role to ensure that polluters are adhering to (the) country’s environmental laws. The Agency’s aim is not to hinder businesses from operating but to ensure that they are not operating at the cost of risking environmental and human health. There are environmental guidelines for swine and poultry operations and the Agency encourages persons who are rearing animals or setting up businesses to seek guidance before starting their operations,” the statement said.

It added that the EPA will continue to carry out visits throughout the country to ensure that persons are complying with safe environmental practices.