Coalition challenge statement about U.S. Capital Energy EIA

The Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage is challenging a statement made by the Minister of Forestry and Fisheries on Section twenty-two (one) of the Environmental Protection Act Chapter as it relates to the rescheduling of the public consultation for the US Capital Energy Exploratory Drilling Environmental Impact Assessment.  The act says, “The Department shall advise the developer of its decision within sixty days after the completed environmental impact assessment has been received by the Department.”  According to the Coalition, after legal advice, the Ministry is not obligated to provide a final response in the sixty since the act allows the DOE to request further action from the developer and therefore, DOE is not bound by the law to hold the public consultations for the EIA of US Capital Energy by October twenty-fifth.