The Environmental Impact Study for the extension of Ruta 32 (San Jose – Limon), which will cost US$495 million, has shortcomings in form and substance, and does not include geotechnical or and social impact studies.
A work which is urgently needed for the Costa Rican economy is still on hold.
The Secretaría Técnica Nacional Ambiental (SETENA) – National Environmental Technical Secretariat – believes that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) submitted by the MOPT and the company CDG Environmental Advisor, is “inadequate and incomplete” and in order to carry on with the evaluation, a request has been made for the presentation within six months of an annex with clarifications.
The resolution states that “…A group of Environmental analysts at SETENA, found that the EIS submitted by the CONAVI and the company CDG Environmental Advisor, does not meet the terms of reference established by SETENA Resolution № 2813-2012-SETENA. ”
“… From the aforementioned, they detected deficiencies in form and content, as well as the omission of relevant character studies such as a geotechnical and social component, to determine the Environmental feasibility (License) of the project”.
In addition, Setena has formally requested submission of an “… ‘original certification or copy certified by a lawyer relating to the global investment amount for the activity, work or project suggested here, including the amount for expenditures for land purchase (value of the land), construction of facilities, access roads, electrification works, drinking and industrial water, purchase of machinery and equipment, qualified and unqualified ‘staff. ”
See resolution issued by Setena.
Source: Centralamericandata.com, ElPais.cr