Testing Methodology Will Not Affect Marine Environment

Martin Alegria

Chief Environmental Officer Alegria gave a little bit of details about the methodology being employed. He explained that it is an acceptable form used across the world. Alegria said it is non-intrusive and doesn’t necessarily require an E.I.A.  Here’s how he explained it:

Martin Alegria, Chief Environmental Officer

“I can’t go into the details as such, but I could tell you that the methodology that they are proposing is what is accepted internationally and what is being done and has been done in the US; is being done in Mexico and will be done in Belize.”

Reporter

“And done without Environmental Impact Assessment?”

Martin Alegria

“I don’t know their processes what they are. But with us, in the legislation, seismic survey doesn’t require unless it is in a protected area.  Because the law that kicks in that is in the EIA regs which says any project or undertaking within a marine reserve or within a terrestrial reserve has to do an EIA. That is the first thing that my technicians would look at- the law and the procedure. The law says once it is an marine reserve, terrestrial reserve an EIA kicks in and that has been an issue that has cost us because sometimes you have a person residence or a small undertaking that requires an EIA because it is within a terrestrial reserve, let’s say. So, when my staff looked at it, it is not within any marine reserve.”

Reporter

“Have any maps been produced or made public to indicate exactly where…?”

Martin Alegria

“The proposed undertaking or the project proposal as they call it has the layout of the lines that they want to run deep offshore Belize. They are proposing some within the – from the reef inland but they are ones we are even more careful of putting in more mitigation measures in terms of the size or the distance from any such structures. And that is where the policy directive from the Cabinet kicks in.”