Details on contract award to EIA consultant for East West Arterial Loop Cayman Islands

Black Immigrant Daily News

According to cayman.bonfirehub.com, a government website, the contract for the services of a qualified environmental firm to perform an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the East-West Arterial Extension has been awarded.

The award, valued at $1.92 million and approved by Public Procurement Committee, went to Whitman, Requardt, & Associates LLP, who are expected to perform all requisite technical studies and analyses to complete an EIA for the East West Arterial Extension over the next 16-20 months.

The next step under the National Conservation Council Directive is for the consultancy team, in collaboration with the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB), which is chaired by the director of the Department of the Environment (DoE), to develop the Terms of Reference for the EIA.

A draft Terms of Reference shall then be released to the public to ensure that it addresses the likely significant issues of importance.

The public consultation for the draft Terms of Reference shall comprise, as a minimum, the following elements:

Publication of the draft Terms of Reference or a link thereto on the DoE’s website for a period of 21 consecutive daysNotification of the publication and public meeting in the local press on two separate occasions, within 10 days prior to the publication of the draft Terms of ReferenceA public meeting at a venue to be agreed with the EAB to present the draft Terms of Reference (the meeting shall be held at least 7 days prior to the end of the consultation period)

Comments on the published draft Terms of Reference shall be submitted in writing to the EAB c/o the DoE via email, post or hand delivery to the offices of the Department of Environment.

Comments from the National Conservation Council on the draft Terms of Reference may also be received at this time.

The EAB shall work with the proponent’s consultants to ensure that all relevant comments are reflected in the final Terms of Reference. The proponent shall provide a written response to the consultation comments.

All responses shall be appended to the Terms of Reference.

Once the Terms of Reference have been finalised by the EAB and the consultant, inclusive of the relevant concerns of the public and the National Conservation Council, the Environmental Impact Assessment can begin.

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