|
The National Environment and
Planning Agency, NEPA, has been successful in its court action
against Ms. Natalie Hutchinson, for breaching the Natural Resources
Conservation Authority Act.
Ms. Hutchinson was charged
under Section 9 of the Act for operating a petroleum storage and
stockpiling facility without an Environmental Permit. Prior to the
Court proceedings, Ms. Hutchinson was served with a Cessation Order
after she was found operating the facility without first being
issued an Environmental Permit. Ms Hutchinson applied for an
Environmental Permit which was granted, however, she failed to
collect it from the Agency. This was despite being advised by the
Agency that she needed to collect the Permit, which outlined the
terms and conditions under which the facility would be allowed to
operate. When she appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrates’
Court on 29 July 2009, Ms. Hutchinson pleaded guilty. She was then
ordered to pay a fine of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00)
or face three (3) months in prison.
NEPA is again appealing to the
public to respect the law as it concerns facilities requiring an
Environmental Permit. An Environmental Permit normally consists of
stipulated terms and conditions under which an applicant is allowed
to operate certain facilities. The Agency is therefore reminding
the public that commencing an activity while failing to collect an
Environmental Permit granted under the Natural Resources
Conservation Authority Act, constitutes a clear breach even though
the application was approved. The public may contact the
Applications Secretariat Branch of NEPA for further information at
754-7540. Calls may also be made to the Agency’s toll free line at
1-888-991-5005.
|
