POND ISLAND–Residents in the vicinity of the dump may soon have some relief from the landfill’s frequent smoke and odour. Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin announced on Wednesday that materials and equipment to be used to prevent fires and improve the management of the landfill were delivered to the Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure VROMI last week.
One of the fire suppression materials delivered is known as an alternative daily cover (ADC) – a cement-based cover material that prevents odours and controls vectors such as flies, birds and rodents.
“The consistent application of the ADC will further help to prevent future surface fires on the landfill,” Romeo-Marlin said.
Silo and applicator machines that will be used to store, mix, and apply the ADC were also delivered, she said.
The National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) is to provide training to VROMI staff on the use of the new materials and equipment, with classroom training and hands-on practice.
However, some preparation still needs to be done to implement fire suppression activities at the landfill.
“We are awaiting the finalisation of the environmental and social impact assessment that is currently being conducted,” said Romeo-Marlin. “As part of this assessment, an initial public consultation session was held in late June, in which stakeholders expressed concerns on the water quality of the Salt Pond. These concerns were taken into consideration and an additional study was conducted by the NRPB.
“This was done to ensure that all legitimate concerns are taken into account in the design phase of the project. With the finalised assessment, we will be able to move forward, on to the next steps in the fire suppression activities.”
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/90441-fire-suppression-tools-delivered-to-vromi
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