THE Tobago House of Assembly (THA) says the storage of the oil-spill waste at Studley Park Landfill has not had a visible impact on the surrounding environment, and the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries has agreed to arrange for the permanent disposal of the waste.
Speaking at a THA press briefing at the Office of the Chief Secretary, Hochoy Charles Administrative Complex, Calder Hall on November 7, Linford Beckles, chairman of the THA multi-disciplinary oil-spill management committee, said there was always a possibility of overflow or leakage, but consistent monitoring of the water quality in the stream in Studley Park and the Barbados Bay area showed no risks to any major water bodies.
Giving a recap of the event, Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) director Allan Stewart recalled the “horrific event” on February 7 when the Gulfstream oil tanker overturned in Tobago waters, having an ecological and environmental impact on 15 kilometres of coastline from Scarborough to Petit Trou Lagoon.
“Probably it may be imperative for me to bring into context that this event happened the Thursday before our national Carnival, and it poses a significant amount of stress in terms of its impact and the mobilisation of resources that was not readily available on the island of Tobago.
“Being separated by 70 miles of water from our sister isle, a number of these resources had to make their way to Tobago and that also poses a certain significant amount of challenges as we went forward.”
Stewart said the oil deposits that were cleaned up had to be placed somewhere, and, after consultations, the Studley Park Landfill was chosen to temporarily store the oil waste. Cells were dug and lined, and dykes were built around the cells to mitigate leaking risks.
Faith BYisrael, THA deputy chief secretary and Secretary of Health, Wellness and Social Protection, interjected, stressing that the storage of the oil spill waste at the landfill was always a short-term solution and they were aware a long-term solution had to be found.
She said the press briefing was necessary to refute claims in a Trinidad Express article on November 3, which said the disposal of the oil using pits at the Studley Park Landfill could be posing a threat to the environment owing to oil spilling over the pits and into soil. She said the THA realised it had not been keeping the wider public informed of all the work being done.
Beckles said the THA used a multi-parameter sonde, which was also used by the US Environmental Protection Agency, to monitor water quality, to monitor freshwater sources as well as the coastline in the Barbados Bay area. He said the latest readings were taken on November 6 at 9.30 am and they were consistent with readings taken before the oil spill, showing there was no chemical or other impact associated with the storage of the oil waste.
There was also no petrochemical scent in the area, no visible sheen in the water and the wildlife was active.
“And of course, we consistently do the visual inspection to ensure that
