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The National Environment and
Planning Agency, NEPA, was today successful in its court action
against the management of Club Ambiance Jamaica, located on Main
Street in Runaway Bay, St. Ann for failing to comply with an
Enforcement Notice served on them arising from the discharge of
improperly treated sewage into the marine environment. The
management pleaded guilty in the St. Ann Resident Magistrate’s Court
and was fined 25 thousand dollars ($25,000.00) by the presiding
magistrate.
The court action was undertaken
after Club Ambiance refused to comply with the NEPA despite being
written several letters requesting compliance under the Natural
Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) Act. NEPA then served
Ambiance with an Enforcement Notice on January 7, 2008 advising them
to cease the offending activity or face court action. Included in
the Enforcement Notice were three steps to be implemented by the
company to ameliorate the effects of the offending activity. These
were:
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That Club Ambiance submits
to the authorities a compliance plan within 14 days of being
served with the Enforcement Notice. The plan should outline how
the offender would bring the discharge of effluent in line with
the standards of the NRCA sewage guidelines.
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That Club Ambiance applies
for a license to discharge effluent along with a permit to do
the necessary upgrading work on the sewage treatment facility at
the location. This condition was to be met within 14 days of
being served the Enforcement Notice.
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That Club Ambiance submits
effluent quality reports taken at the final point of discharge.
This was to be done over a six month period from the effective
date of the notice.
NEPA will continue to exercise
vigilance in monitoring the activities of Club Ambiance and similar
entities to ensure they fall within the effluent discharge
guidelines prescribed by the Authority.
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