The Environment Impact Assessment Report for the proposed Asphalt Mixing Plant to be built in Lami by China Railway No.5 Engineering Group (Fiji) Ltd has been declined by the Department of Environment.
This has been confirmed by Permanent Secretary for Environment Joshua Wycliffe who adds one of the reasons it was declined was because of the huge amount of public dissent.
Asphalt plants mix gravel and sand with crude oil to make the asphalt used to pave roads.
Wycliffe further says the area already has a couple of plants and they did not want another one.
The 60 page EIA report was submitted to the Department of Environment on 16th December last year. It was prepared by former Director of Environment Epeli Nasome who now runs E. Nasome Environment Consultant Services.
There was strong objection to the project by Lami residents as dust from the transportation and heating of materials, noise from plant operation, wastewater and liquid waste from workers’ washing and toilet use as well as solid waste should be expected if the project goes ahead.
They were also concerned about the toxic chemicals released to the air during production.
The nearest house located near the proposed plant would have been less than a kilometre away.
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