The MAE found signs of environmental damage and human health. The damage occurred in 21,007 meters of the Cayambe-Coca National Park.
The The Ministry of the Environment found evidence of a “potential impact on the provision of environmental services and risks to human health” in the Piedra Fina area, where an oil spill occurred on Friday due to the rupture of the Heavy Crude Oil Pipeline (OCP). This in turn occurred when a huge stone fell on the structure causing the spill.
This could lead to sanctions and fines for the oil company. “At the moment, the corresponding legal and administrative actions have been initiated based on the evidence of environmental and social impact, as well as the indication of environmental damage, which derive in the corresponding fines and sanctions,” the Ministry said a few minutes ago in a press release. However, a more detailed investigation must still be carried out, which, according to the regulations, must be carried out by the oil company itself.
According to technical reports from the Ministry, the affectation is within the Cayambe Coca National Park and, according to the zoning, the spill occurs in the protection zone. The total affected area is 21,007.91 m2, of these 16,913.61 m2 are within the protection zone and the remaining 4,094.3 m2 are in the buffer zone of the protected area.
The Ministry also reported that with regard to fauna, according to the Protected Area Management Plan, the place is the habitat of the Andean cusumbo, chonta deer, cock-of-the-rock and several species of amphibians.
In addition, this State portfolio said that in order to ensure the implementation of repair actions on the damages in the area and as established by the Environmental Code Regulation, information was collected on environmental data on soil, water, air, fauna and flora. and also social damage. The operator has been notified of the findings and has been asked to proceed with a detailed investigation.
according to el Regulation of the Environmental Organic Code, in the event that indications of environmental damage are found, as has happened now, the competent environmental authority “will order the operator to carry out a detailed investigation in order to complement the evidence for the determination of environmental damage ”. The detailed investigation contemplates studies, investigations and collection of primary information of greater depth that allow dimensioning the magnitude, extension, reversibility of the negative environmental impacts and determination of the existence of environmental damage, considering the guidelines of the technical norm issued for the effect, the regulation says.
Meanwhile, the Ministry indicated that In order to guarantee safe water for consumption by the population of Napo and Orellana, table 1 of the COE of these provinces has been activated and the GADs involved have been notified so that they can take the necessary actions. Our staff monitors 210 km of the Coca River and its tributaries and coordinates containment and remediation where hydrocarbon traces are identified.
The Ministry said that it will continue in the area of direct and indirect influence, and guarantees that the emerging plan, cleaning, remeasurement, repair and rehabilitation of the affected areas is complied with.
For his On the other hand, OCP Ecuador reported yesterday that it has already started the repair of the affected pipe. For this, we collected crude oil in retention pools to transfer it to the Lago Agrio station by means of tank trucks. This will begin the cleaning and remediation tasks.
According to the company, the event was caused by the detachment of a rock two meters high and at least three meters in radius, a fact that was immediately noticed by the pipeline’s automatic leak detection system, When the pressure decreases, the pumping stops.
In parallel, OCP Ecuador began the repair of the pipeline and estimates to resume pumping in a couple of days, emphasizing that both the reception of crude oil and the dispatch to ships have not been affected.
“They are hired three companies for cleaning and remediation work. We will carry out this work in a committed and responsible manner, until we reach comprehensive reparation without sparing resources for it,” he said. Jorge Vugdelija, executive president of OCP Ecuador. And he confirmed that “OCP Ecuador is in charge of the event, caused by force majeure, with the responsibility and commitment to people and respect for the environment that have always characterized the company.”
Source: Eluniverso
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