The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Review is in process. The public meeting was held on October 6th, about 2 weeks after the public notices conforming to the DOE's proceedure were published. The public comment period for the EIA ends on October 15th. So you have until then to read the EIA, which is available at several locations in Belize, and submit your comments to the National Environmental Assessment Committee (NEAC).

The locations I know about include the Belize Biltmore Plaza on Northern Highway, and Dive Connections Office on North Front Street. There is also a copy in the library.

Contact information for the NEAC, which includes governmental agencies and 2 NGOs (Belize Audubon and BANCONGO) can be found through the MNREI and DOE. Their contact info is:

Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment
Address: Market Square, Belmopan
Phone: (501) 822-2226 or 822-2249 or 822-2711 or 822-2232
Fax: (501) 822-2333
Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Website: http://www.mnrei.gov.bz/

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Department of Environment
Address: #10/12 Ambergris Avenue, Belmopan
Phone: (501) 822-2816 or 822-2542
Fax: (501) 822-2862
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.mnrei.gov.bz/services.asp?id=39

I've answered many questions regarding the details of the proposed Dolphin Encounter, which is part of a the EIA, on BelizeForums, so I won't repeat them here. You can read my previous posts and other discussion starting at http://www.belizeforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=003422

As a science advisor, I have chosen to remain neutral regarding the Dolphin Encounter component of the Hugh Parkey Foundation/Spanish Bay Conservation and Research Center's Environmental Impact Assessment. I was quoted earlier on Belize Forums as saying, "I strongly believe that the decision to approve or deny a captive dolphin facility in Belize should be made by Belizeans based on the most currently available social, ecological, economic, scientific, and educational data available". Thank you, Moon Boy, for an accurate quote, which I continue to stand by.

Caryn Self-Sullivan
http://www.sirenian.org