ToR published for BT dump
(CNS): The Terms of Reference (ToR) for an environmental impact assessment on the proposed new landfill in the wetlands in Bodden Town, part of government's deal with Dart, have been published and the public has just three weeks to submit their comments. The parameters of the ToR had already been limited before the consultation began, as, disregarding advice from the environmental impact assessment board, the review will not include alternative sites. However, the EIA will consider the alternative of ‘no action’ and maintaining the landfill in George Town. The ToRs indicate that the developer will only be responsible for the first phase of the site, which is confined to a lined landfill and associated facilities.
Should government go ahead with its decision to partner with the Dart Group in the proposed controversial private-public partnership involving a number of projects, crown land swaps and the relocation of the landfill to Bodden Town, Dart has stated that it will finance the first phase of a waste-management facility on a site large enough for government to introduce re-cycling, re-use and other management possibilities.
However, the developer will only be responsible for constructing a lined landfill and then capping and remediating the existing George Town dump. The future of waste-management would remain in the hands of the DoEH unless government opts for another tendering process for a private sector firm to manage the new landfill and develop the additional facilities that will be required.
The proposal has created considerable opposition for a wide number of reasons and while it is broadly accepted that government must address the landfill issue in George Town, most experts note that moving a dump should only be an absolute last resort as no matter how sophisticated, all landfills pose a significant threat to the environment.
At present, the proposal to move the landfill forms part of a wider deal between government and the Dart Group, which will be subject to the fiscal agreement the government has signed with the UK and is expected to be passed into law during the current meeting of the Legislative Assembly. Given the recent developments and the pressure from the UK about international best practice and value for money when it comes to procurement, it is not clear if this deal with the islands’ largest investor will pass muster with the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility.
While the UK was extremely vocal in its opposition to government progressing talks with China Harbour Engineering Company on the development of the cruise port facilities, which has resulted in the abandonment of those talks by the premier, the FCO has said little so far about the ForCayman Investment Alliance. This is a much wider and more complex proposal, linked to further private sector development, the closure of the West Bay Road and the swapping of crown land including the current George Town dump in exchange for Dart land for the new facility in Bodden Town.
Given the location of Dart’s proposed new landfill, close to wetlands, the EIA will take into consideration two major conventions to which Cayman is a signature and has international legal obligations. The ToR will consider the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance and the Convention on Biological Diversity because, having signed them, the CIG is committed to maintaining the ecological character of the Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the wise use, or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in the country.
The EIA will examine the potential effects of the proposed project on the existing socioeconomic conditions in terms of population dynamics, infrastructure, economic and business status, tourism and recreation. It will look at the impact on the quality of groundwater, surface water, sediments and the subsurface soils, both of the property on which the WMF will be located and the surrounding area. The local climate, including wind direction and speed, daily rainfall and temperatures as well as potential evapotranspiration and atmospheric humidity, will also be part of the EIA.
Transport and traffic is a major issue for many objecting to the site because moving the dump to Bodden Town will increase traffic to the district as the vast majority — an estimated 80% — of Grand Cayman’s rubbish is generated in West Bay and George Town, which would need to be transported to the new site. The EIA will examinewhat that means for the community and will also look at the visual impact as well as noise, vibration and air quality. The likely impacts of the proposed WMF on the ecological environment of the site and its surroundings will also be a major part of the assessment.
The public can begin submitting their comments on the draft terms of reference immediately but two public meetings will be held in Bodden Town and George Town a week before the consultation period closes, where members of the EIA team and Dart will be available to answer questions about the proposed ToRs for the project.
The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, 20 November, at the Bodden Town Civic Centre and presentations will begin at 7pm, but the public will be able to go examine the proposals from 12 noon. The second meeting will be in George Town at the Public Library on the following evening Wednesday, November 21, when again the public will be able to see the ToRs from 12pm. The comment period will officially close on November 29.
See draft Terms of Reference here.
See details of consultation, as well as where and how to submit comments here.
Category: Science and Nature
When Dart was building Camana Bay, people were protesting it, they protested the new cinema saying it would "take business from our old one" and those same people are the ones running to Camana Bay with their kids every weekend to stroll the beautiful, relaxing grounds and watch a movie.
We put so much emphasis in the unnecessary things we cannot control that we lose sight of the more important things! The dump in GT is an EYE SORE!!!! You can see the dang thing from my office, I am pretty sure I see it when I am at Rum Point even! The cruise ship passengers get a nice view of it when docking too! Moving the dump will GREATLY increase work for our Caymanian truck drivers and heavy equipment operators. I would suggest instead of moping about this, save your money and buy a truck for when they begin hauling the rubbish, you would like the idea then!!!
OK, I'll bite, by starting a new dump the old one will still be there, it's not going anywhere, it'll still be visible from your office, still leach, still stink The alternative of burning it could provide cheap energy and reduce the size of it, I don't know enough of the pros and cons to this, but I guess that's one of the problems, it hasn'tbeen discussed and won't be as part of this excercise.
My main problem is that there was a tendering process, the experts in the field of garbage were chosen, only to be usurped by someone who has no knowledge of waste management and came 7th in the process.
I think most people would like to see a fair and impartial review of the options for the benefit of everyone in Cayman, at the moment there is one option on the table and that appears to be weighted for the benefit of Dart, there may be some collateral benefits to many, but the main benefit is to the one with the cheque book.
We must think sensibly about this, would Dart really get a new landfill site and leave the old trash at the old site which is being such a stinky nuisance to his development and sits on the front door of the Residential development that is to span that side of the island a form part of Camana Bay???? Unless he wants to use it all as fill for the swamp prior to construction I am quite confident Darto will be relocating Mount Trashmore for the sake of his "Sim City"!!!
Hey people…
Why cant we include this and a few other questions on a Referendum Ballot in the May Election??
It's time for the people to get their way – not just listen to empty promises!!
Yes. Put the entire For Cayman Investment agreement to a yes/no ballot.
Bodden Town is the best place for it. George Town is the worst place. Seems pretty straight forward to me.
Looks good. When do we start?
Well the birds got their sanctuary taken away from them due to the almighty dollar in cayman brac. Didn’t the developers and the adjoining owners new about the stench before they built their hotels,condos, homes, etc…..another fumble by our great planning leaders at CPA. Now they want to move the dump to BT. Crazy idea if you ask me…..if the dump has to move put it in Barkers where it will not affect the water lense, affect the birds, affect the community and the island on a whole. West bay got two roads now and a bridge so lets go west with the dump!
Finally! Get be dump out of GT for the love of little baby Jesus!
Ok, finally this whole mess is in black & white. A dump in the wetlands, really!I live in Midland Acres and when they drilled our deep well water was gushing out after just four feet. What is it going to be when they dig that big hole! Please review the attached draft terms of reference. Also could someone please explain to me what is waste management without reclycing! If it does not happen now trust me it will never happen, especially if Government has to pay for it. Let’s find a solution at the present site. I am sure if Dart’s plan is rejected it is in his own best interrest to work with the Government to efficiently Handle the dump situation at the cuurent site. And maybe he could use that land purchased in Pease Bay to grow some fruits and vegetables. It is, in fact an agricultural zone. Now that would be great! I encourage everyone in BT to attend this meeting on November 20th at the BT Civic Center. This is our time and opportunity to finally put an end to this and offer solutions for the current site. Trust me, there are solutions and they won’t cost the 100m that Mr. Scotland keeps telling everyone!
Is that the same land the National trust tried to buy about 15 years ago and were “outbid”?
Dummy, you cant zone property for certain type of usage, and then overlay another law over it.
It is plain to the eyes that this property is zones high industry..those are quaries you see to the South east and to the south west of the proposed area. These quarry are blasting (using explosive)on weekly basis.
There is only one winner in all this.
Yes the Caymanian people will be the only winners.
And the property owners at Lakeside
Just in case someone has been sleeping that is DART.
Yeah me!
Mr Dart, you do have a sense of humour, always recognise your comments. You commented once that I was astute:)
Everybody want to go heaven nobody want to die! that is the case here. but one day soon something will have to be done.maybe what they should do is move the waste management facility or landfill from district to district every 10 years . so every district gets a fair share . then people will still complain but it will be fair. however George town would be last on the rotation because they have had their fair share.
There is no place on Grand Cayman that is more suitable. The same criticism can be aimed at any location. Your picture deceptively fails to show that the location is precisely between two preexisting quarries. This area is not some pristine and unique wetland.
Why not use an old quarry then and leave the trees be?
The long and short of it, from what I have seen, is that what Dart is doing is getting the present problem out of his backyard by creating a lined garbage can in Bodden Town for government to do what they have always been doing at the present landfill; dumping garbage. Dart is doing nothing more than that. Government has neither the brains or the resources to address the situation any further than that. So at the end of the day, we are no further ahead than we are now.
My back yard cannot hold my trash any longer. I am going to move it to your backyard. Do you mind?
18;49
You have a hell of a back yard, 2-3/4 miles of it.I wish you idiots would stop and look in the mirror and see how stupid you sound.
"see how stupid you sound" – that's physically impossible, also against the laws of physics
"looks" like you're the idiot.
You had nothing better to correct me with? look in the mirror and see how screwed up your face is, when you making these stupid comments.
The facts still remains the same…you all against this facility are idiots! Cayman..for the last 28 years, wanted the GT dump relocated to a more suitable area. BT has the mass land area, so it is the only suitable spot…. and thats is not physically impossible.
There is land being opened up on the new bypass into west Bay too, how about putting it there?
Try close this foolishness down and stop the political lackeys running it from getting too much funds for the next election FFR FFR FFR save us nah UK
Finally, an Environmental Impact Assessment —- with public consultatioan and input! How wonderful is that. Why is this recieved with such negativity CNS???? I have looked at the document and it seems very comprehensive and thorough!!!!! I for one will be open minded and will attend the meeting in Bodden Town for the public meeting. Why don't we all wait to get the information, understand the facts before criticizing what could be a long term solution for us!
I wish the UK would look into this and the WB Bypass, and many other things. In fact I wish they would srutinise every single project in Cayman.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7946636.stm
When I read the above-linked report, why do I think of McKeeva and Cayman?
Seriously, if the UK were to step in here, I strongly fear that our situation may be worse than T&C's was. We have a huge bump under our rug from all the stuff that is constantly swept under there. Time for a good sweeping I say.
CNS you champion the environment in so many other ways – yet it seems you are deliberately trying to undermine this EIA process out of solidarity with the politically-motivated BT Coalition. It's embarrassing. GTLF is a crisis and this is the first actual affordable solution that's been on the table in decades, why not simply encourage reader education instead of promoting political agendas?
"GTLF is a crisis and this is the first actual affordable solution that's been on the table in decades"
Affordable?? How affordable is it when Dart is only digging the hole, but Government has to build the buildings and pay for all of the other equipment, trucking, etc. at the new site?
Do you think Govt is going to pick up the current infrastructure and place it in BT? Try thinking longer than 1 minute and you will see the so-called affordability (or rather lack thereof) of this proposal.
Deal with the situation at teh present site, that's the cheaper option, and also better for the majority of the island.
Thank you for pointing this out. It seems that most people don't understand that all Dart is proposing to do in BT is digging holes and lining 2 of them. He bought the piece of land, that is true, from a major UDP supporter (of course). We The People will be paying for anything else that needs to be done.
Hear Hear! The GT dump has been overflowing for over a decade. Finally something's being done and NIMBYs are predictably up in arms. Have you noticed how the area has suddenly become "the Wetlands"?
Question? Where is the modern Waste Management facility that Dart is putting in Bodden Town? I dare say if that was the case, the entire island should be sorting garbage and being educated on the process. We are getting another dump and there is no questioning about that.
Why is it so difficult for our people to understand that this is another one of Bush's under-handed deals. Sell us out and he lops his legs, while shovelling up the cash.
Dart is swaping land. He is not building and running a waste management facility. That is up to the government to do.
Um, didn't you get the memo? Neither Dart nor the government plan this modern facility. It transpires all we're getting is a new dump… or in other words moving the problem rather than fixing it. Nobody seems willing or able to commit to anything more than that.
"most experts note that moving a dump should only be an absolute last resort as no matter how sophisticated"
That makes complete sense, however in this case there is no proposal to "move" anything. The current landfill will be capped and remediated as is standard global best practice for landfills that have reached their capacity.
A new, international standard, solid waste facility which includes a much smaller lined landfill will be constructed with the capabilites to introduce recycling and have a more sustainable solution for the islands waste for decades to come.
And the best part is it won't cost $200M that the government does not have for an alternatively intellectually challenged proposal to burn the garbage beside where the majority of the population lives.
This is not rocket science, how does the rest of the world solve this problem? Not by endlessly adding to a mountain of trash…or starting a giant trash fire….
But, why not deal with the majority of the trash where the majority of it is created, i.e. West Bay or George Town? Rolston said if they could find a place in WB big enough for the new facility then he would support that move.
There's a lot of new land about to be opened up when the new highway is built / extended from Indies Suites to Batabano Road, how about placing the new, super-terrific, waste management facility in that area?
Let's start looking at other sites, not just BT.
How can it be so important to consider the wetlands in BT yet on the Brac, protection of the last remaining protected area was taken away with the stroke of a pen to allow a SINGLE developer to address a natural odorous situation.
Yet here, in a much wider agreement that has many facets including addressing a man-made stink bomb, there are groups suddenly up in arms and pulling at every possible string as an excuse NOT to address the problem. SMH. There is way way WAY to much NIMBY-ism in Cayman…
Its not NIMBY, its the political shuffle. You take two steps forwards (an EIA, with public involvement), one step back (Cayman Brac Wetland), and then shuffle sideways (sure we'll listen to the people on the EIA). – If you missed it the first time, the political shuffle was a Rundown song a few years ago.
Because C-Brac-ers or one-day environmentalists didnt care about it, and tourists dont go scuba diving in that pond.
This man is sick! Read the people's lips
'WE DO NOT WANT A DUMP IN BODDEN TOWN!
End of story.
I understand that the people of Bodden Town have been dumping their trash in the district of Georgetown for a generation now. There is no more room in Georgetown so consider this a return of some of the trash you sent our way. I understand you may not WANT it back but that is too bad. This is one-island. We have no more room over here for your trash. The good news is that you are getting a world-class state-of-the-art dump that will be a lot better than the ne we have lived successfully with for years.
Dart is NOT building us a "world-class state-of-the-art dump". He is digging four holes in the ground and lining two of them. WE will have to pay make it a state of the art dump.
Wally, the people of East End, North Side, and West Bay have also been dumping their garbage in GT, why not look in those districts too for a solution?
Well you get what you voted for (and by that I mean the majority). Bodden Town wasn't happy with who they had, so they replaced them with what they got…and what they got NOW is a dump.
So, in the words of dear departed W. Ryan "so, you had it good, wanted better, but you got it worse"
May the smell be as fragrant and ever so present as the choice made by the "Majority" who, with poor, misguided, idiotic non-thinking, BROUGHT THIS ON THEMSELVES.
Don't suck it up…SMELL IT UP!!!!
This is a good example of when decisions are made without thought or logic. The end result is always most displeasing.
May the wind forever blow from the North East!!!
I want it in Bodden Town because it is better than having it where it is. Read those lips too honey.
You say that as if when it is built in BT the one in GT will disappear…
ORLY? Have you driven down Manse Road? You've already got a dump in BT