Seismic contractors in Toledo donate computers

The controversy over oil exploration in Toledo’s Sarstoon-Temash National Park has largely been a battle for the hearts and minds of the area’s residents, waged between the oil company, U.S. Capital Energy, and the community group SATIIM. While SATIIM has grabbed the headlines with press conferences and a successful lawsuit against the government, over the weekend the petroleum investors came up with some P.R. of their own. (FS) On Sunday thirty-eight new computers and a satellite connection were donated to the San Pedro Columbia Primary School by two of the companies contracted to do the seismic work. According to a spokesman for ASG Seismic and CHX, if the pilot project in San Pedro Columbia is successful, similar installations will be provided to the six communities that surround the park. Protests by SATIIM forced the oil company to commission an environmental impact assessment prior to commencement of seismic work. That E.I.A. was completed and an environmental compliance plan has been prepared for signing by the Department of Environment. The seismic testing is expected to begin around November fifteenth.