|
Council Members of ELC Karkar District,
attending the 6th Karkar District Youth Conference
at Kuluk Village, Bagabag Island, Madang, PNG.
Rev. Nungot Galat, president
Karkar District |
ELC-PNG’s
Karkar District Youth Conference
Request for documents relating to
Solwara 1 Project
More than 1000 members of 6 parishes
within the ELC-PNG’s Karkar District, representing more than 50,000 members including
other churches attending this conference have called upon the State and
Nautilus to release documents relating to Solwara 1 Project.
The youths representing Kulubob
circuit, Tagub circuit, Bumsol circuit, Bagiai circuit, Samoan circuit, and
Bagbag circuit made this call at the ELC-PNG’s 6th Karkar District
Youth Conference at Kuluk village, Bagbag Island, Madang, Papua New Guinea from
Friday 24th to Sunday 29th of July, 2016.
The youths
write seeking access to documents regarding the Solwara 1 Deep Seabed Mining
Project (Project) from Mining
Minister, Minister for Conservation Environment and Protection Authority and
Nautilus.
Section 51 of the Constitution provides that every citizen has the
right of reasonable access to official documents. This right of access to
information is subject only to the need for such secrecy as is reasonably
justifiable in a democratic society in respect of certain matters.
|
L-R John Simoi, Wences Magun,
and Karkar District Youth
Coordinator Kubai Kadim |
Accordingly,
the youths kindly seek access to the following documents:
1.
The
Environmental Permit (WD-L3-234) granted to Nautilus Minerals Inc (Nautilus) (or related entity) on or
around 29 December 2009, including the particulars of all imposed conditions;
2.
Any
amended Environmental Permits granted to Nautilus (or related entity) and
related conditions;
3.
The
Inception Report for the Project prepared by Nautilus and submitted to the
Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) on or about May 2007;
4.
The
final Environmental Management Plan for the Project or most current draft if
not finalised, and any amendments to that document;
5.
The
independent review of the oceanographic aspects of the EIS conducted for DEC by
Cardno Lawson Treloar Pty Ltd in 2009;
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Some members of Bagabag circuit posing in front of the 5 star
conference center |
6.
All
oceanographic data held in relation to the Project, including surface current
measurements at and near the Project site;
7.
Any
other DEC commissioned independent reviews of the EIS and their supporting
studies;
8.
Any
further studies or modelling held by DEC in relation to the EIS, including
studies on social, cultural, health and economic impacts of the Project;
9.
Any
costs-benefits analyses conducted in relation to the Project, including any
analyses of other existing and potential future uses of the Project area;
10. Any reports regarding other marine
development activities (e.g., gas and oil drilling, military use, bridge
construction, bottom trawling) in the vicinity of the Project area.
11. Any further documents that include
references to changes to the specifications of the Project;
12. The Ports Upgrade and Operations Deed
between Nautilus and the state owned enterprise PNG Ports Corporation Ltd (PNGPC);
13. Any existing Port Service Agreement
between Nautilus and PNGPC;
14. Any permits held by Nautilus under the
Dumping of Wastes at Sea Act 1979
relating to the Project;
15. Any approved or draft Ballast Water
Management Plans relating to the Project;
16. Any approved or draft management plans
or other documents for the Project which detail emergency management procedures
or risk management processes; and
17. Full copies of all studies, reports
etc. referred to in the EIS for the Project.
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Karei beach, at Kuluk Village, where Mel Togolo, from Nautilus landed and was told by Bagabag Islanders NOT to do seabed mining near Bagabag Island. |
We would be
very grateful if you could provide the above documents within eight week of the date of this letter.
If we do not receive a response from you by this time, we will consider
commencing legal proceedings under section 57 of the Constitution to compel
production of these documents under court order.
Please do not
hesitate to contact us to discuss this request for information on ph:73445130
Regards,
Kubai Kadim
ELC-PNG’s
Karkar District Youth Coordinator, Madang, Papua New Guinea
Cc: Nautilus
Cc: Prime Minister
Cc: Mining Minister
Cc: CEPA Minister
Cc: Minister for National Fisheries
Authority
Cc: Minister for Culture and Tourism
Cc: Minister for National Planning
Cc: Madang Governor
Cc: Sumkar MP
Cc: Maror Kagin Tapani
Cc: Alliance of Solwara 1 Warriors
Cc: Hon. Gary Juffa
Cc: NGO partners
Cc: Churches