NEPA investigating oil spill in Rio Cobre

 

The National Environment and Planning Agency says it is investigating an oil spill in the Rio Cobre in Bog Walk, St. Catherine.

 

NEPA says it was notified of the incident about 5:00 p.m. Monday and dispatched a team to conduct investigations. It says based on its investigation, the spill emanated from a factory in the area. 

 

"NEPA has since met with the company's management team, who is cooperating with the agency to undertake the necessary cleanup exercise. NEPA also reached out to Petrojam for assistance in this regard and they have agreed to provide the necessary resources to extract the oil and to prevent its movement further downstream," said Angela Hamilton, Manager of Public Education and Corporate Communication at NEPA.

 

She said the oil in the Rio Cobre is in the vicinity of the Flat Bridge.

 

NEPA has come in for criticism over its management of the environment with the Jamaica Environment Trust on Monday calling for Jamaicans to demand more answers from the regulatory agency regarding a recent fish kill in the Kingston Harbour.

 

NEPA on Monday said it was reviewing the circumstances surrounding the fish kill and would not be able to comment further.