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EPA approved facility for hazardous waste storage located in midst of residential area

Dear Editor,

Schlumberger-Guyana Inc.’s planned construction of a “Source Storage and Calibration Building” facility at 1 Area X Houston, EBD, Georgetown which was given EPA approval only came to the attention of the majority of residents of Houston and surrounding communities through news reports in late April and early May.  The EPA’s Notice to the Public dated April 11, 2021 which was subsequently found on its website, did not provide any substantive reasons for how it arrived at this approval and the basis for waiving an EIA. Rather, the notice simply states that “it has been determined that the projects will not significantly affect the environment or human health, and are therefore exempt from the requirement for an EIA.” No further explanation was provided. It is not clear what evidence or information was used to make this determination.

We were/are alarmed to find out that the Schlumberger-Guyana Inc. Source Storage and Calibration facility involves the handling, storage and installation of radioactive sources, and the processing and disposal of hazardous industrial waste, including oil-contaminated materials. It is well-documented that these substances, by their very nature, pose serious risks to the environment and human health. Under Guyana’s Constitution and international human rights treaties, citizens have a right to participate in decision-making and be informed of ‘developments’ which impacts our communities and environment including suitability of location for construction and operation of such a facility, track record of company in handling hazardous waste, mitigation measures and safeguards for securing and disposing of radioactive material and disaster preparedness to name a few. One news report stated in April that construction was 75% completed. Our view is that the EPA’s approval for this facility violates principles of environmental management set out in the Environment Protection Act, including the precautionary principle. Specifically, the Environmental Protection Act dictates that, in performing its functions, the EPA shall make use of current principles of environmental management, including the precautionary principle and the avoidance principle. The “precautionary” principle states that “where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation” (article 4(b), Constitution). The “avoidance” principle states that “it is preferable to avoid environmental damage as it can be impossible or more expensive to repair rather than prevent damage” (article 4(d), Constitution).

It is unclear what information the EPA used to determine that the project would not have a significant effect on the environment or human health. The only information we could find about the possible impacts of Schlumberger’s proposed project in Guyana is in Schlumberger’s own Project Summary on environmental effects. This section only has about 146 words and is overwhelmingly lacking in detail. This section states very briefly that the project will have no environmental effects. The Project Summary does not provide details about the risks associated with radioactive sources, hazardous industrial waste and mitigation measures. Moreover, the Project Summary leaves out key details such as safety measures for the transportation of hazardous waste and radioactive sources, safe disposal from the accumulated hazardous substances, plans in the event of a spill or industrial accidents on site and or in the transportation of these hazardous and radioactive materials from Guyana’s EEZ zone into and along the Demerara River.  Neither is there any detailed environmental plan for the containment, mitigation or protection measures for accidental release of such hazardous substances into the environment nor any mention of consequences of risks and endangerment of citizens, communities and environment. International conventions and best practice emphasize the importance of proper regulation and management of radioactive waste, including through environmental assessments before construction of such facilities begins. The Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, for example, states that Contracting Parties shall take the appropriate steps to ensure that procedures are established and implemented for a proposed radioactive waste management facility to evaluate the safety impact of such a facility on individuals, society and the environment, taking into account possible evolution of the site conditions of disposal facilities after closure. In addition, “before construction of a radioactive waste management facility, a systematic safety assessment and an environmental assessment appropriate to the hazard presented by the facility and covering its operating lifetime shall be carried out.” Radioactive waste management is defined broadly to include all activities, including decommissioning activities in the handling, pretreatment, treatment, conditioning, storage, or disposal of radioactive waste.

Additionally, we do not understand how EPA granted approval for such a facility to be located in a residential area. Guyana’s zoning categories, as we were informed are residential, commercial, residential/commercial and industrial. According to our information, industrial facilities, factories, and harmful storage sites should never be located, constructed, built or operated in a residential area.  Schlumberger Guyana Inc, planned construction of a “Source Storage and Calibration Building” facility at 1 Area X Houston, EBD is ‘slam bang’ located in the communities of Houston, Houston Estate, Houston Village/Housing Scheme with close proximity to adjoining communities of McDoom, Agricola, Eccles etc.  Houston Nursery and Houston Secondary Schools are just across the road from where this facility is being constructed as are health centres, community centres, faith based places of worship and wells for potable water. The UN World Conference on Human Rights, reaffirms in its Declaration on the Right to Development that “The human person is the central subject of development. The right to development should be fulfilled so as to meet equitably the developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations. The Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental matters in Latin America and the Caribbean, also known as the “Escazú Agreement “ came into full effect in April,  2021. President Irfaan Ali affirmed Guyana’s commitment to it in his speech on Earth Day, April 22, and stating its importance to the sustainable development of the Region. Escazú guarantees “full and effective implementation of the rights of access to environmental information, public participation and justice” and protects the rights of citizens to live in a healthy environment. In other words, it guarantees access to environmental information, consultation in environmental decision making processes, right to take legal action in cases of environmental damage, promotes and defends the rights of environmental and human rights defenders, indigenous peoples and communities.

Based on the above, we have requested that the EPA conduct a comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESA) of Schlumberger Guyana Inc.’s “Source Storage and Calibration Building” facility at 1 Area X Houston, EBD. We have also written also to the, Minister of Housing, the Georgetown Mayor & City Council and the Central and Housing Planning Authority to clarify zoning issues surrounding the location of this facility for waste including hazardous waste including radioactive waste and installation of radioactive sources within residential communities.

Sincerely,
Danuta Radzik
Vanda Radzik

Replies sorted oldest to newest

@Ramakant-P posted:

No matter what, there is always someone out there who is not satisfied and will go to the length of the earth to offer some kind of critique.

Are you that stupid or are you making a special effort today?

Mitwah
@Ramakant-P posted:

No matter what, there is always someone out there who is not satisfied and will go to the length of the earth to offer some kind of critique.

Only in backwater countries waste disposals are built in residential areas.

Django

Development baby, development!!! To the moon......all the way to the MOON! Sweeter than sumatoo, sweeter than buxton spice...sweeter than sapodillas...to the MOON, all the way to the MOON! Aile, baby...aile!

FM
@Former Member posted:

Development baby, development!!! To the moon......all the way to the MOON! Sweeter than sumatoo, sweeter than buxton spice...sweeter than sapodillas...to the MOON, all the way to the MOON! Aile, baby...aile!

So what are you complaining about?

R
@Former Member posted:

Development baby, development!!! To the moon......all the way to the MOON! Sweeter than sumatoo, sweeter than buxton spice...sweeter than sapodillas...to the MOON, all the way to the MOON! Aile, baby...aile!

Yeah !!! big development in Houston Guyana ,the new oil capital of the world ,pretty soon the residents will have to worry about Radioactive and other Hazardous waste.

Django
Last edited by Django
@Former Member posted:

Development baby, development!!! To the moon......all the way to the MOON! Sweeter than sumatoo, sweeter than buxton spice...sweeter than sapodillas...to the MOON, all the way to the MOON! Aile, baby...aile!

You're sounding like Pavi. 

FM
@Former Member posted:

Development baby, development!!! To the moon......all the way to the MOON! Sweeter than sumatoo, sweeter than buxton spice...sweeter than sapodillas...to the MOON, all the way to the MOON! Aile, baby...aile!

Pavi is reading but scared to post. 

FM

Birth defects and still births will sky rocket. At the same time life expectancy will plummet. The PPP is practicing ethnic cleansing. If I was living there I would have the people in the EPA swimming with the fishes.

Mr.T
@Mr.T posted:

Birth defects and still births will sky rocket. At the same time life expectancy will plummet. The PPP is practicing ethnic cleansing. If I was living there I would have the people in the EPA swimming with the fishes.

I remembered that Burnham and company tried that between 1964 and 1992.  Where were you then?

R
@Ramakant-P posted:

Where did the Coalition Government store their waste? It looks like the PPP is always fixing their problem.

They probably stored it at Freedom House , hence the shit coming out of there.

cain
Last edited by cain
@Ramakant-P posted:

I remembered that Burnham and company tried that between 1964 and 1992.  Where were you then?

Why are you so interested in Burnham? And why are you asking where I was? Maybe you can explain the connection?

Mr.T

You guys had better raise a stink about this! Israel, I recall, had wanted to use Guyana to dump.its nuclear waste in exchange for help with Guyana's foreign debt, before this! I had warned Hamilton Greene to reject this crap! The Americans, like Israel, are showing just what they think of Guyana when they do this with PPP approval! Schumberger? Wasn't this company involved in the rape of Iraq? Wtf would they care about Guyana with its feeble defences?

FM
@Mr.T posted:

Birth defects and still births will sky rocket. At the same time life expectancy will plummet. The PPP is practicing ethnic cleansing. If I was living there I would have the people in the EPA swimming with the fishes.

There are a lot of Indos living in the Houston area, Mr. T!

FM

AFC-Media release
For immediate release
Thursday, May 27, 2021
Measures to secure radioactive tools and manage hazardous oil wastes must be made public
The Alliance For Change (AFC) is deeply concerned with the reported chaos and non- responsiveness meted to our Guyanese people by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at legislatively held public meetings related to locations of treatment, storage and disposal (TSD) facilities in their neighborhoods for the handling of highly toxic, hazardous, and radioactive wastes and material generated by oil companies’ operations.
Beyond the constant worry over the highly toxic and hazardous chemicals from oil and gas production, are also the anxieties being aroused by the introduction of facilities to store and manage radioactive wastes, materials and equipment in our neighborhoods, on our crowded streets, and in close proximity to our water and fresh air. Complaints to this effect are perpetually being brought to our attention, particularly from residents of East Bank Demerara where there appears to be an affinity for the location of such facilities and what appears to be a disturbing go-ahead from the Government of Guyana.
In oil and gas production, are the use of radioactive equipment sources, and the unearthing of radioactive material referred to as Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) which are the same as regular radioactive material, except for the source; hence still calls for careful handling and disposal. These radioactive materials come from different parts of the oil and gas production process including from drill cuttings, flowback and produced water, reinjected sea-water, pipe scale, sludges, sediments and filters.
The US Environmental Protection Agency notes that, “Wastes generated from oil and gas drilling must be properly managed to keep the radionuclides in these wastes from spreading to surrounding areas.” The Agency also highlights the likelihood of Radium getting into groundwater. On the coastland, groundwater from aquifers produces about 90 percent of the water we use - so understandable why we should all be concerned.
The International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA notes that “In the absence of suitable radiation protection measures, NORM in the oil and gas industry could cause external exposure during production….and internal exposures of workers and other persons, particularly during maintenance, the transport of waste and contaminated equipment, the decontamination of equipment, and the processing and disposal of waste. Exposures of a similar nature may arise also during the decommissioning of oil and gas production facilities and their associated waste management facilities, and that “The deposition of contaminated scales and sludge in pipes and vessels may produce significant dose rates inside and outside these components.”
Besides the generation of NORM, the oil and gas industry also utilizes critical tools and equipment for carrying out functions such as well logging and monitoring, and these carry a variety of radioactive sources which must be closely secured from the time of manufacture to final disposition or eternal storage after use. Failure to provide strong security and accountability for every piece of equipment, including during storage in secured facilities and transportation along our roadways, would risk getting into the wrong hands with a potential for fatal exposures and creation of dirty bombs.
Let it be made crystal clear that the AFC by its actions, fully supports the development of Guyana’s oil and gas sector, but is justifiably concerned that there appears to be less than adequate measures or plans in place, including oversight capabilities by our Government Agencies, to handle all radioactive, toxic and hazardous wastes produced by the oil companies operating here, in a safe and environmentally sound manner.
Therefore, in the best interest of the industry, and in order to allay the fears and mistrust of the people in the Government’s ability to protect the nation’s environment, safety and health wellbeing, the AFC demands that urgent attention be given to enhancing the capabilities for ensuring paramountcy of the environment, health, safety and general wellbeing of workers and general population, over the interest of high production. A systematic approach adopting internationally accepted standards for the safe and environmentally sound operation of TSD facilities and handling of NORM material and radioactive sources must be developed and legislated along with enforcement capabilities.
Specifically, the AFC is calling upon the government to publicly disclose in layman’s terms: the security plan for protecting the radioactive equipment sources from getting into wrong hands; a description of these never-before-seen wastes and radioactive equipment sources in Guyana; the ‘cradle to grave’ process, criteria and standards for evaluating and authorizing companies handling these wastes from the point of generation, through treatment, and to the point of final disposal; a general description of the types of waste treatment systems and technologies, and their treatment efficacies; the environmental, safety and health standards to be applied to the wastes and residuals upon entering the environmental media such as our clean water, air and soil; the environmental, safety and health risks to be posed by these TSD facilities; and the process with criteria used for determining whether or not an Environmental Impact Assessment is needed for a project.
END
Django
Last edited by Django

Now here's the case for ALL Guyanese to rally together and stop this disrespect to ALL Guyanese! These people don't give a damn for the safety of our people! The stupid PPP leaders will accept ANY TERMS as long as they get their greedy hands on the US $! Witness Jagdeo's glee about the gas being allowed to escape into our atmosphere! This piece of 'coolie' canecutting dalit shit will lead this country anywhere for a dollar he could steal! And f.u, Rama you stupid kunt! You don't care either!

How are you going to spend any money when you and/or your loved ones are busy dying? Is money more important than your life? The PPP leaders have shown how much they really care for the people!

FM
Last edited by Former Member
@Former Member posted:

Now here's the case for ALL Guyanese to rally together and stop this disrespect to ALL Guyanese! These people don't give a damn for the safety of our people! The stupid PPP leaders will accept ANY TERMS as long as they get their greedy hands on the US $! Witness Jagdeo's glee about the gas being allowed to escape into our atmosphere! This piece of 'coolie' canecutting dalit shit will lead this country anywhere for a dollar he could steal! And f.u, Rama you stupid kunt! You don't care either!

How are you going to spend any money when you and/or your loved ones are busy dying? Is money more important than your life? The PPP leaders have shown how much they really care for the people!

You people wake the fk up! This is the same Israeli offer without any offer of debt relief! Sulzberger is Jewish slime! The same people related to the Jewish propaganda newspaper, The New York Times that promoted the Holocaust and.6 million Jew lives lost! Those Jews who are against them are afraid of a Gentile (goyim: cattle) awakening, though they wouldn't mind if their fellow fake Jews succeed in their mission to rule the world!

Wake up, you fing cattle! That stupid bird shit man accused me of fear! Ha! He's never had to deal with these scum who can kill with their alien's tech and harass with family spirits!

The US DoD now has thousaands of flying drones, specialists in accurate killing!

FM
Last edited by Former Member

Sulzberger when I should have said Schlumberger! Matters not a fk! They might be American in nationality but their loyalty is to Judah-over-all! Like the Chinese! Am I a racist? No! An fing realist!

FM
Last edited by Former Member
@Former Member posted:

Now here's the case for ALL Guyanese to rally together and stop this disrespect to ALL Guyanese! These people don't give a damn for the safety of our people! The stupid PPP leaders will accept ANY TERMS as long as they get their greedy hands on the US $! Witness Jagdeo's glee about the gas being allowed to escape into our atmosphere! This piece of 'coolie' canecutting dalit shit will lead this country anywhere for a dollar he could steal! And f.u, Rama you stupid kunt! You don't care either!

How are you going to spend any money when you and/or your loved ones are busy dying? Is money more important than your life? The PPP leaders have shown how much they really care for the people!

You are one sick puppy! Your ignorance has surpassed your stupidity. Your bad manners can only be exceeded by your bad manners. It looks like the COVID-19 has left permanent damage to your brains.

R
@Ramakant-P posted:

You are one sick puppy! Your ignorance has surpassed your stupidity. Your bad manners can only be exceeded by your bad manners. It looks like the COVID-19 has left permanent damage to your brains.

Don't worry! You've convinced me! You ARE indeed STUPID!

FM

Schlumberger is the world's largest oil service company! The midget Jagde--grasping money-grubbing dalit had better beware of making ALL Guyanese pissed off at him for allowing this deal to go through! Radioactivity lasts longer than history! Better take what money you already have in the bank and tell these disrespectful bastards to go dump their garbage st Israel's front door! If they take the oil without paying, there's nothing Guyana can do but appeal to the UN! Then when they come around, argue for a more world class deal! Without the garbage! F Schlumberger and Exxon! The Venezuelans, and Manuro, must be laughing at Jag's greed and ignorance!

FM
Last edited by Former Member

As I said before, this will ultimately end badly for Guyana. Greed and stupidity is not a good mix. It's only a matter of time before this an environmental nightmare somewhere. These people are not ready for prime time, only prime time money. Teef and get out quick. The goal of every Guyanese politician.

FM
@Former Member posted:

As I said before, this will ultimately end badly for Guyana. Greed and stupidity is not a good mix. It's only a matter of time before this an environmental nightmare somewhere. These people are not ready for prime time, only prime time money. Teef and get out quick. The goal of every Guyanese politician.

English can't be your language of communication, stupid n! See above! It's troubling that you get 2 approvals!

FM
Last edited by Former Member
@Former Member posted:

English can't be your language of communication, stupid n! See above! It's troubling that you get 2 approvals!

awwwww......baby shally is jealous cuz he gets no approvals. Fool, are you a man or a child?

FM
@Former Member posted:

awwwww......baby shally is jealous cuz he gets no approvals. Fool, are you a man or a child?

Funny enough he thought l was iguana and ran a campaign screaming every day that l was and adding "n" in all his posts.

I was the one who asked him last week if English was his first language owing to the unintelligible crap he writes. He's merely parroting

S
@Spugum posted:

Funny enough he thought l was iguana and ran a campaign screaming every day that l was and adding "n" in all his posts.

I was the one who asked him last week if English was his first language owing to the unintelligible crap he writes. He's merely parroting

He sees "iguana" everywhere, even in my absence for a few months. He's good at blaming everyone for his misfortunes and behavior. He accused me of altering his Stabroek news posts. Then supposedly someone else was adding periods in his posts, driving him bonkers. LOL

The periods mysteriously disappeared after he created about a million posts about it. It's the FBI, the RCMP, the government, aliens, the Jinns, familiar spirits, assorted jumbies, a koala bear, the sidewalk. These were all blamed for his behavior. I'm not kidding, look at his old posts.

Oh, and of course his incontinence and not being able to shit for days after  the aliens sealed up his rectum were also to blame.

FM

I'm incredulous! You're incredibly stupid n! Devious, too!

Django is either allowing you to post as both sputum and bird shit or my harassing criminal.is joining as the bird shit maan! You will be ignored from.now on! Your stupidity needs no highlighting!

FM
Last edited by Former Member
@Former Member posted:

I'm incredulous! You're incredibly stupid n! Devious, too!

Django is either allowing you to post as both sputum and bird shit or my harassing criminal.is joining as the bird shit maan! You will be ignored from.now on! Your stupidity needs no highlighting!

..hahahahahahahaha....yes, yes, Jangles, your benefactor, is now "in" on some grand conspiracy against you. The RCMP is involved too, as are the aliens and their rolling pin shaped probes. We're heeeeeeeereeeeee.....

Don't turn around. The koala bear is behind you, and he's feeling a bit......

FM
Last edited by Former Member
@Former Member posted:

He sees "iguana" everywhere, even in my absence for a few months. He's good at blaming everyone for his misfortunes and behavior. He accused me of altering his Stabroek news posts. Then supposedly someone else was adding periods in his posts, driving him bonkers. LOL

The periods mysteriously disappeared after he created about a million posts about it. It's the FBI, the RCMP, the government, aliens, the Jinns, familiar spirits, assorted jumbies, a koala bear, the sidewalk. These were all blamed for his behavior. I'm not kidding, look at his old posts.

Oh, and of course his incontinence and not being able to shit for days after  the aliens sealed up his rectum were also to blame.

Yes, l saw his posts. He seems unbalanced and may be in need of some sort of help. He contributes nothing of substance to the Forum. In my first few exchanges with him when l joined he boasted about attacking Rama. In his head that makes him credible. At least Rama is funny

I've come across some weirdos but he takes the cake. Don't think we've had one like him on here before. I've been an observer on the Forum for many years.

S

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