Environmental Impact Assessment Of The Mountain Pine Ridge ...

The proposed development does not materially contravene these conventions as a result of its
nominal footprint within the greater protected area of Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve and
the fully reversible, short term duration of any impact it may impose on area wildlife. CITES
(Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) guidelines for conservation of rare,
threatened and endangered species will also be adhered to by the proposed development as no
ranked or protected species will be captured, traded or eliminated by the proposed development.
Consequently none of the proposed development’s activities are anticipated to present any
unmitigated conflict(s) with Belize’s existing framework of conservation conventions and treaties.
National Development Guidelines
No development guidelines have been formally drafted for the Mountain Pine Ridge area of Belize
outside of those enshrined in the Forests and Mining Acts (Chapters 213 and 226, respectively in
the Laws of Belize, Revised 2000). Rather, tacit policy has been to require a designated permitting
procedure be followed as dictated by both the above-referenced Acts, and the Environmental
Protection Act (Chapter 328, in the Laws of Belize, Revised 2000), which together cause the
proponent to mitigate any significant environmental impacts posed by the proposed development;
thereby creating an enabling mechanism for procurement of the economic opportunity and hence,
positive social impact that environmentally responsible mining of Belize’s mineral resources for
export can provide to the nation of Belize.
Laws of Belize
The governing component of the legal framework is provided by the Substantive Laws of Belize,
revised in 2000, the principle acts of which that are likely to be relevant to the proposed
development being itemized in Table 2. Key points of contact between Belize’s national legislation
and the proposed development include the following:
The Forestry Act (Chapter 213) provides for the collection of fees for the removal of timber
species such as the few pine stems located within the mining site. There is also a camping
permit requirement for the over-night occupation of any area within the Reserve. A temporary
camping permit has been issued to the project proponent for a period of 6 months to afford
production of the required environmental impact assessment of the proposed development,
which expires on 6 October, 2008 (see Addendum 5) The Act includes mineral resources under
the category of forest products but defers the right to collect a royalty for the removal of such
materials to the Geology and Petroleum Department.
The Mines and Minerals Act (Chapter 226) has issued and prospecting license to the proposed
development, under which authority the mining site was identified; and has subsequently issued
a mining license to the proposed development for the extraction of granite (see Addendum 6),
subject to the payment of processing fees, an environmental bond, and royalties to the
Government of Belize.
The Mountain Pine Ridge Granite Quarry EIA / Ecoworks Page 8 of 167