Glenroy Blanchette: New Basseterre high school EIA fails "smell test"

Geoprapher and lecturer at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC),

Mr Glenroy Blanchette said Tuesday that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to build the new Basseterre High School on the Basseterre Valley Aquifer "does not pass the smell test" and accused the Timothy Harris-led Team Unity Government of bulldozing

its way to put a significant natural resource at tremendous risk of contamination.

"It is woefully lacking in what an EIA should contain in this particular type of development. There are too many deficiencies in addressing the potential impacts and recommending mitigation measures as well as alternative sites and alternative solutions to the problems. There is no provision for post project analysis for evaluating the outcomes," said Blanchette

on the radio programme "Ask the Leader" on Kyss 102.5 FM.

Blanchette called on the Development Control and Planning Board to reject the EIA report.

He said the planned construction of the new Basseterre High School on the Basseterre Valley Aquifer has become embroiled in political party politics, "but any reasonable person having an objective analysis of the facts would come too the only conclusion that it is unwise to build a school on the aquifer."

"I pray that the Government will not follow through with its plansfor the sake of present and future generations because God forbid if the aquifer becomes contaminated, the damage, the harm to this country will be irreparable and we will suffer the consequences for generations to come. This is an issue that we should not take lightly and all Kittitians and Nevisians should make their voices be heard on this matter," said Blanchette.

He said the politically-charged health crisis at the old BHS was scientifically neutralized by reports from several reputable local, regional, and international institutions which all concluded, that the old BHS can be reoccupied once recommended remedial measures were undertaken.

"The present government has refused to heed this advice and instead decided to fulfill an election promise said Blanchette, who pointed out that government announced its decision to build on the Basseterre Valley Aquifer even before legislative requirements mandated by the Development Planning and Control Act were observed. However, public pressure forced the government to follow the law that required the submission of an Environmental Impact Assessment for any major development. Subsequently, the government announced that a new BHS will cost taxpayers $40 million. We are now being told that it would cost $80 million," said

Blanchette.

He pointed to several material deficiencies with the Report and it should fail upon submission to the relevant authority.

"Except for the geotechnical surveys and traffic counts, the Report relied heavily on pre-2010 data to advise its findings and recommendations. For example, it used rainfall data up to 2009. The rainfall regime for the past ten (10) years were ignored. The Report made no mention of public participation in the EIA process. The full involvement of the public should be sought at all stages of the EIA process. The Report lacks data on financial as well as socio-economic costs to surrounding communities and the country at large. The Reports lacks information on alternatives. What alternative sites can be used? What alternative mitigation measures can be used?," Blanchette pointed out.

He noted that in terms of mitigation of potential environmental impacts, the Report does not provide any mitigation measures for contamination of groundwater by wastewater or sewage, just technical responses.

"The Report lacks any provision for Post Project Analysis (Auditing). PPA is an effective tool that is used to ensure development was done under the terms and conditions of the EIA process and planning approval," said Blanchette.

Perusing the Report, Blanchette noted it states that storm water runoff represents the greatest potential impacts on the BVA.

"In my opinion, wastewater/sewage contamination is the greatest potential impact on the BVA. The Report recommended the provision of a 7.5 acres attenuation pond upstream of the new BHS to allow for the infiltration of runoff to reduce runoff flow downstream of the pond. No details are given about how the hydrological features of the area will be changed to accommodate this new pond. The Report recommended onsite wastewater and sewage treatment plants. While the Report acknowledge that the facilities will create foul odors, the Report did not detail any specific mitigation measure to deal with the problem," Blanchette

said.

He revealed that the Stantec Consulting Caribbean Ltd., which carried out the EIA has "ensured that it removed itself from legal liability for any issue that arise from the construction of a new Basseterre High School on the Basseterre Valley Aquifer.

"The EIA Report reflects the ethical dilemma that are inherent in many EIA’s. Consultants are employed to please those who employ them and not to meet the needs of the wider community. A true cost-benefit analysis of the proposed new BHS on the BVA can and will expose the huge environmental, financial, economic, and social consequences if we fail to heed the warnings of (eminent Kittitian) Dr. Joseph Christmas and others," said Blanchette.

"St. Kitts may very well descend into a water crisis of unimaginable proportions that can cause severe hardship for present and future generations," he concluded.