The Environmental Assess-ment Board (EAB) will on Monday hold a hearing at Yarrowkabra on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway to determine whether a proposed sand mine project by BK International will affect the operations of Bulkan’s Timber Works and whether there is need for an Environmental Impact Assessment prior to giving the go ahead.

Howard Bulkan, the owner of Bulkan’s Timber Works, told Stabroek News that if the sand mine is located next to his business, then he would have no choice but to shut down and send workers home.

Howard Bulkan

Speaking to this newspaper last night, Brian Tiwari of BK International said he saw no problem with Bulkan’s Timber Works since the sand mine operation will be located some 2,000 feet away. He said he believed the company is just out to create mischief.

Bulkan said that he wrote to the EAB on December 18, 2012, requesting that there be a hearing to determine the validity of his complaint against the proposed development next to his business. He said that after being asked by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to resubmit his application following his first submission, he was able to convince the EAB to arrange a hearing. This will take place on Monday at 4:30pm.

In a letter to Executive Director of the EPA Dr Indarjit Ramdass, Bulkan’s Timber Works and Superior Shingles and Wood Products through attorney RN Poonai raised concerns about the safety of workers and equipment and the effects on persons who depend on these companies for a living.

“The proposed project site borders the old glass factory at Yarrowkabra out of which the above mentioned companies operate. This compound contains many old, tall steel structures (water towers, rusting building frames, silos, etc) given the nature of the previous manufacturing entity that operated here. My clients engaged the opinion of an engineer who advised that based on the angle of repose of sand and the consistent volumes of rainfall that occur in this area, the minimum safe distance that the edge of the sand mine should start is two and a half times the distance of the intended depth of the mine away from the any given point in the compound of my clients,” said the letter from Poonai.

“Given the physical properties of sand, my clients are very concerned about the safety of their approximately 100 employees should any of these structures become undermined and collapse.”

The letter also raised concerns of possible damage to highly expensive and sensitive wood working equipment and of the adverse effects of sand particles blowing into the factories, on the manufacturing process and the products.

Brian Tiwari

The attorney’s letter also pointed out that members of the Yarrowkabra Charcoal Burners Association – an organisation comprising mostly single mothers – rely on the free raw material provided by Superior Shingles and Wood Products to earn a living. “The granting of a permit to mine sand has the real potential to put these women out of work and I believe their concerns should be addressed…,” Poonai said.

The letter said too that given the nature of the area, an Environmental Impact Assessment should be done to ensure that the project would not adversely affect the natural vegetation and wildlife. The letter was copied to Tiwari and Dawn Braithwaite, Chairperson of the Yarrowkabra Charcoal Burners Association.

Bulkan said his business not only supports the women in the association and the factory workers but also small loggers out of Linden who supply Wallaba logs for the operations.