JET questions NEPA about Rio Cobre spills

The Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) has expressed concern regarding a “lack of updates” from the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) following the toxic discharge from Windalco’s Effluent Holding Pond (EHP) in Ewarton, St Catherine on July 30.

The trust has also posed several questions to NEPA regarding the matter, including whether the Jamaican taxpayers will be responsible for compensating residents affected by the spill, or whether Windalco is handling that matter.

In late July, Effluent from the EHP flowed into the Rio Cobre elevating the temperature and pH of the river, affecting water quality, and killing fish and other organisms.

NEPA has since signalled its intent to take action against UC Rusal, the Russian company which operates Windalco, which included sanctions leading to a suspension of Windalco’s environmental permit.

“The public was told that a meeting was to be held with the Company on August 8, 2022, and UC Rusal had the right to appeal NEPA’s decision. However, very little updates have been provided to the public on what has been agreed…” said JET in a release.

Chief Executive Officer for JET Dr Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie said, “There needs to be greater transparency on this issue. There are a number of questions that the public would like answered, for example, how long does the Company have to make an appeal?”

Moodie also argued that the amount needed to compensate those affected by this most recent incident is not adequately covered by the Environmental Performance Bond, and questioned where the additional payments will come from.

“The lack of transparency is only serving to exacerbate the lack of trust that community members have in the regulators, considering the long-standing nature of this problem,” JET closed.

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