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Download PDF The government-formed environment monitoring committee to oversee Chevron’s 3D seismic survey in Lawachhara forest yesterday said that the US oil and gas company has violated the conditions of government’s environment clearance certificate (ECC).
Chevron did not inform the environment ministry about the fire incident on April 26 and about cracks developed on many houses in the area due to explosions during seismic survey, which is in clear violation of the ECC, said a report by the committee.
It recommended the government warn Chevron and cancel the ECC issued to it if it violates the conditions again. The committee also recommended demanding compensation from the company for the local people whose houses have developed cracks.
The committee went to Lawachhara forest on April 29 to investigate the fire.
It submitted the report to the Ministry of Environment and Forests yesterday, where it also held a meeting and discussed the report. A representative from Chevron was also present who was informed about the committee’s findings.
The fire did not occur due to the explosions during survey work by Chevron, but it might be set off by the activities of the survey crew, the report said.
A local officer of Forest Department told the committee that the energy company did not inform them of their work plan, such as in which places they were going to conduct the survey prior to their activities, the committee said.
The energy company has conducted 268 blasts in the area so far.
The investigation found that Chevron is not conducting the seismic survey by properly trained staff, the report said adding that it even does not have any coordination with the local people regarding survey activities.
Chevron has not been informing the monitoring committee about their seismic survey work regularly, the committee said adding that the company is not taking in their local representatives in their activities either.
The committee recommended the government make the ECC conditions known to the local representatives of the monitoring committee and instruct Chevron to include them while conducting the survey.
The committee was formed on April 13 by a government circular headed by a deputy secretary of Ministry of Environment and Forests.
The other members of the committee are an assistant deputy commissioner (ADC) of Moulvibazar, divisional forest officer of wildlife section of Sylhet, a representative of energy and mineral resources division, a representative of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a member of Wildlife Trusty Board, a member of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyer Association (Bela), a member of Moulvibazar civil society, a local Khasia leader and a member from Nisharga support project.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:46 am
It is ridiculous to even think that Chevron did not observe all the conditions of the permit in carrying out Seismic survey in a very sensitive area. Wonder why Petrobangla and the monitoring committee representative9s) could not be pcaed on full time basis to overview their works. Occidental which orgiannly held PSC in Maulabibazar caused the massive Magurchara blow out and was let off the hook despite of gross negligence of its drilling contractor.Chevron should have been doubly careful. If the allegation of inexperienced personnel those have been enaged is found coreect then Chevron must be penalsed as per provision of PSC.The concerned Petrobangla authority may also be taken to task.