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The following is a response to The Bermuda Sun column by Cole Simmons (September 28), entitled 'Dockyard Project Shows PLP Government Has Its Own Rules', by acting Minister of the Environment, Telecommunications and E-Commerce Derrick Burgess.

Dear Sir,

Discussions between the Department of Planning and the developer and consultants on the project for the construction of a new pier at Dockyard have been ongoing since at least June, 2006.

At this time, during pre-consultations, the requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was discussed.

The original planning application was submitted in March, 2007.

Following further consultation and discussion between key agencies including The Department of Marine and Ports Services and the Department of Conservation Services, and the Ministry of Tourism and Transport, the decision was taken to revisit the entire process of seeking approval from the Development Applications Board (the Board).

The Department of Planning advised that the most efficient manner to manage the planning and building approval process would be to adopt a phased approach to the development.

Given the requirement for the submission and approval of a supporting EIA, it was decided that the most expeditious manner to handle the matter was to first seek in-principle approval for the master plan development comprising two phases. Phase 1 included the pier and associated infrastructure along with mitigation measures, and Phase 2 involved the terminal building, ground transportation area, North Arm Bridge and associated mitigation measures.

This approach was taken to allow for the completion of the required environmental studies to dovetail in a manner that would allow for planning assessment of the development based primarily on the priorities of the construction schedule.

The Development Applications Board approved the in-principle master plan on September 12, 2007 and the Phase 1 application - P0140/07 - to which the current EIS relates is still under consideration.

Unique circumstances

This project is characterized by a number of unique circumstances, which must, of necessity, be taken into consideration.

Foremost, the presence of the Dolphin Keep, complicated with the recent birth of the calves, dictated that the dolphin environment should be disturbed as little as practicable and therefore, the project had to be implemented with the Dolphin Keep in situ.

This necessitated that mitigation measures be devised as a matter of urgency. With the assistance and collaboration of Dolphin Quest, appropriate measures were deployed. The specific measures deployed include:

n Construction of a breakwater outside the entrance of the tunnel to The Dolphin Keep;

n Noise and vibration barriers consisting of three (3) sound-attenuation baffles inside the tunnel.

Currently, the other works carried out at the site involve the driving of test piles.

This work is necessary to provide empirical data in support of the EIS.

The work involved in driving these test piles, and the need to develop effective mitigation measures, has led to the development of a pioneering pile-driving methodology that minimizes likely negative impacts of noise on the dolphin environment.

Understanding the need for the development of the EIA and all that was involved in the production of that Assessment, and in view of the national importance of this project, the Department of Planning agreed to allow the work being undertaken in respect of the test pile driving."

Scrutiny of the processing of the documents received to date will clearly indicate the efficiency and priority with which the Department and its consultees have sought to deal with these matters.

It must be stressed that all matters are being dealt with - openly and fairly.

- Minister Derrick Burgess[[In-content Ad]]

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