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Offshore exploration (Photo:Revista Puerto)
Without a new environmental impact report there is no offshore exploration
ARGENTINA
Wednesday, July 06, 2022, 07:00 (GMT + 9)
The Court of Appeals ruled that the precautionary measure ordered by Judge Santiago Martín was replaced by another issued by the Court of Appeals in which it was decided that the Ministry of the Environment must issue a complementary environmental impact report in order to start with the explorations.
Those who acted against the Ministry of the Environment and the oil companies filed an appeal for clarification with the Court of Appeals, given the confusion generated in the population by the statements of national officials, after the ruling of the Court of Appeals was announced. In this sense, a ruling was issued on June 24, making it clear that until the required changes are complied with, there is expansion of information and studies by the ministries involved and the oil companies, the seismic activity cannot begin. in the North Basin.
After the decision of the Court of Appeals was made known, several media outlets have implied that the seismic activity in the North Basin was authorized to start and that the precautionary order issued by Judge Santiago Martín had been rejected, in some cases without clarifying that what was dictated by the Chamber did nothing more than endorse the magistrate's ruling.
El cronista
In the judgment of the Chamber, the Ministry of the Environment was ordered to prepare a complementary environmental impact report that includes the estimation of cumulative impacts, expansion of scientific information regarding the effects of exploration on the marine environment, that the control and inspection leave the orbit of the Ministry of Energy for not being trained and giving intervention to the National Parks Administration based on its key role in the preservation of the southern right whale, indicating that until this does not happen, the exploration will not be able to begin. All this following the same precautionary criteria of Judge Martín.
Given the confusion that the interpretation by some media and national officials had generated in public opinion, the plaintiff filed an appeal for clarification with the Court of Appeals to clear up doubts regarding the requirements of justice.
In response, this Court issued a resolution on June 24 in which it indicates that in what was dictated "it does not notice any omission or lack of clarity in the sentence issued on 06/03/22, since it has been ordered injunction that - In order to give continuity to the activities of the Project in question, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development must comply with the precautions determined therein, with the judicial control provided”.
 Telam
The Court rejected the clarification appeal, understanding that the Chamber's ruling leaves no room for doubt, but at the same time, sheds light on public opinion regarding what the National State must do before starting seismic activity. Without a new complementary environmental impact study, which introduces all the actions ordered by the courts, there will be no offshore exploration in the North Basin.
It should be clarified that offshore exploration has always been enabled, neither Judge Martín nor the Chamber have prohibited it. It has simply been ordered that it be carried out under the regulations of the strict international protocols that apply in other parts of the world, those that Equinor itself complies with in other latitudes. But, given the lack of demands from our authorities, it is not willing to comply in Argentina.
Source: Revista Puerto
Edited by Malena Nahum
editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media
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