Audubon Society Maintains E.I.A. Needed for Seismic Survey

Amanda Burgos-Acosta

Notwithstanding assurances that the survey would not be conducted within areas of the Caribbean Sea, including atolls and lagoons, the Belize Audubon Society maintains that it requires an Environmental Impact Assessment to be done.

Amanda Burgos-Acosta, Executive Director, Belize Audubon Society

“The reality of it is I think when we saw the first map that showed where the lines were, they did clarify that they were not going within the atolls, that they are not coming within the barrier reef and the lagoonal system and they were pretty much staying, I believe it was one kilometer away from protected areas or the atolls.  What our concerns was is that it’s a huge breadth of area and so you should, by right, ask for an environmental impact assessment.  Seismic testing had been moved a couple years ago from Schedule One which means it shall have an EIA to Schedule Two which means it may require.  May require, then, leaves it to the discretion of the department, they have in their purview to look at the impacts or the perceived impacts then make a decision.  We feel that the decision, in this case, because of the ecosystem, because of the breadth of the study it does require an EIA.”

The matter, News Five understands, will be discussed in Cabinet on Tuesday.  The extent of the suspension remains uncertain.