The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) has fined State-run Petrotrin $20 million for breaching the terms of its certificates of environment clearance (CEC) by its allegedly poor response to the December 17 oil-spill at La Brea that ruined marine-life, beaches and communities on Trinidad’s south west coast.
Petrotrin has agreed to pay the fine which the EMA said would be used for various remediation steps at the oil-spill site.
EMA chairman, Dr Alan Bachan, held a news conference yesterday at the EMA office, Elizabeth Street, St Clair, with fellow directors Michael Rooplal, Dr Rai Ragbir and Gayatree Badree- Maharaj.
The EMA said Petrotrin was fined for failings in its response after the oil-spill, but that it is outside of the EMA’s remit to punish Petrotrin for the oil-spill itself, but said that any affected resident might sue Petrotrin under the common law for say the tort offence of nuisance.
Petrotrin president, Khalid Hassanali, yesterday told Newsday the EMA’s $20 million fine was harsh. He said, “In respect to the measures we have taken in respect of the environment and in respect to the persons and communities affected, I do find it is a bit harsh.”
In a statement issued at the news conference, the EMA said that last Friday it had served two notices of violation (NOV) on Petrotrin for violation of the EMA Act.
These breaches include Petrotrin’s failure get approval for its methods of disposal of oil-spill waste; failure to promptly report all accidents, emergencies and spills; failure to comply with health and air-monitoring requirements; and failure to submit a complete written report of the incident.
“Petrotrin, in response to the EMA’s action, made representations to the EMA and admitted to the violations articulated in the respective NOVs,” said the EMA statement. “A consent agreement was entered into in which Petrotrin was fined a sum of $20 million. The monies would be used towards the assessment, remediation and rehabilitation of the impacted sites…”.
The statement listed 12 examples of activities that the $20 million would be used to pay for to counter the effects of the oil-spill.
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