🏝️ Cayman Islands' ReGen project lacks legislative framework

The Cayman Islands Government may face difficulties in holding the Dart-led consortium, which will operate the ReGen waste-management operations, accountable due to the lack of a legislative framework supporting the project, warns the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB). The EAB's review of the Environmental Statement for the Integrated Solid Waste Management System, known as ReGen, also highlighted that waiving planning permission for the project means there will be no permit to which required mitigation measures can be tied. The review also found that Dart is unable to finalize the management plan until financial closure on the project is reached, with no indication of when this might happen. 🏝️

The EAB review also pointed out that much of the oversight and accountability for this project, which includes all waste management in Grand Cayman, will be in the final agreement with the government. This presents several issues, including the need for emission controls to be part of the contract and not separate legislation. The EAB believes that legislation should be promulgated to govern air quality emissions from the Energy Recovery Facility as well as water quality and other required monitoring. The EAB also found it problematic that planning permission had been waived, as building permits are inappropriate for enforcing the conditions of the environmental management plan. 📜

Furthermore, the EAB expressed concerns about continuity as the project moves from the EIA phase into the construction and long-term operation. The Cayman Islands Government must ensure that the responsible agency is adequately empowered and resourced to fulfill its obligations. The EAB also raised concerns about certain issues that have been left out of the process, such as the management of unusual waste like contaminated soil, sewage sludge, radioactive or other hazardous waste. The EAB also highlighted the risk of nutrient loading into the marine environment as the remediation of the landfill was outside of the EIA. 🌊