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Richard Nelson, Senior Manager for NEPA's Environmental Management Sub-division
Mining company Windalco could be hit with another lawsuit following Sunday's fish kill in the Rio Cobre in St. Catherine.
The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) says it is contemplating legal action against the company after preliminary tests revealed that caustic effluent had entered the river.
NEPA says Windalco is in breach of the Wild Life Protection Act.
Richard Nelson, Senior Manager for NEPA's Environmental Management Sub-division, told Radio Jamaica News that the agency is in the process of issuing an enforcement notice on Windalco for the unauthorised discharge.
"We'll instruct them to immediately cease the discharge, as well as rehabilitate the affected areas and also put measures in place in return the water back to the background levels as soon as possible. In fact, we're proposing that this happens within the next 24 to 48 hours," he told Radio Jamaica News.
Mr. Nelson said NEPA is concerned about the recurring problem so the agency plans to attach an environmental performance bond to Windalco's mining permit to ensure its operations comply with minimising and mitigating environmental impacts.
"Based on the calculations, we're hoping that a very high value is set and then this will be held against the company and of course it should serve as a deterrent to incidents of this nature, because failing that then the agency can draw down on that bond and use the funds to do the necessary rehabilitation and remediation activities as a result of the spill," he noted.
In 2019, NEPA brought legal action against Windalco after effluent from its holding ponds overflowed and contaminated the Rio Cobre, causing a similar fish kill.
That matter is still before the court.
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