Copec withdraws EIS Las Salinas Project
After harsh comments on the initiative submitted by state agencies, the company decided to reevaluate the project. Its goal was to enable the field for residential use and equipment. Today, the land is suitable only for use as green space.
In the freezer. Thus remained virtually the commercial real megaproject that Copec seeks to raise in Las Salinas, Viña del Mar.
Through Inmobiliaria Las Salinas, the company decided to voluntarily withdraw the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) submitted on June 25 which was intended to enable the field for residential use and equipment. Today, the land is suitable only for use as green space.
The real estate company said that the reason for this determination is that they have received, to date, pronouncements of some public services and agencies consulted as part of the environmental assessment process. Some argue that the study would lack of enough information and that this could not be remedied during the instance.
“We took the decision to withdraw the Environmental Impact Study to process calmly and depth information and requirements expressed by the services. The aim of the study is to build legal and technical certainty that future urban developments adhere to the standard ILS has been raised to the ground in terms of environmental sustainability. This is a complex work in which we are willing to invest the necessary efforts, “said Arturo Natho, general manager of the real estate company.
“This EIA, lacks the necessary information for understanding the project as well as how it will develop in different stages under assessment,” said one of the letters signed by Gonzalo Peña, Valparaiso Regional Director from the Dirección General de Aguas.-
The agency noted that the EIA does not have a “clear and precise definition” of projects to be executed in the field Las Salinas, and the head of the agency says, in general terms, the initiatives that could be feasible to set in place.
Roberto Ponce, Regional Director for Central Zone of the National Service of Geology and Mining (Sernageomin) also filed a motion with observations. “It is noted that in case of tsunami the area would be affected by a shallow flood between 0 and 1 meter. To excavate and remove soil, flood swing higher, having to look at that case and estimate the height that will be flooded in case of tsunami, “he said.
The problem is that the company does not have a definition of the projects to be undertaken in the field of 16.8 hectares on the Avenida Jorge Montt in Viña del Mar. While Copec said after purchasing the field (in June 2011) that was the possibility of developing office buildings or housing with partners as well as to sell fields for real estate companies and construction executed their own initiatives, today the company would have defined to divide in lots the whole field. Here’s how the company is currently negotiating for the authority will approve a traffic impact study, and then to sell the land into lots.
Improvements
Yesterday, in its statement, Inmobiliaria Las Salinas said to be “sure of the depth and validity of the information provided in the EIA” and that the questions “obey this study addresses a particularly complex and unprecedented process” in the country. “So-even if it would be possible to object or debate the merits of each of the statements replies received, the company has taken this decision and believes careful review, clarify and / or substantiate the various criteria on which it can develop this evaluation devoid of national legislation to resolve it, “they said.
The company said it will restart the process on the basis of background, rationale and technical regulations “that are still able to provide greater certainty for a project that has no precedent in Chile.”
Source: Pulso
