In a press release posted on the Ministry of Health?s website on August 25, 2006, entitled, ?Chalillo E.I.A. Finds Various Levels of Mercury in Fish?, the concerns of both local authorities and environmental and non-governmental agencies were expressed. These concerns had been voiced at a public meeting on January 16, 2003 at the Novelo?s Convention Centre in San Ignacio. The public meeting is one component of the Environmental Impact Assessment (E.I.A.) process which falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Environment.

Based on the concerns, the Department of the Environment, the Ministry of Health, and the Fisheries Department, with the cooperation of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), had conducted a study in January 2005. Although the study found that the amount of mercury found in the fish was below the cautionary levels (The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization place the safe levels of mercury in fish at 1.0 mg/g for predatory fish and 0.5mg/g for all other fish. Both of these organizations allocate the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake of mercury at 1.6 ug/kg bw or 0.23 ug/kg/day.), persons weighing 150 pounds or less are advised to consume more than 7.2 ounces weekly of Bay Snook caught in the Macal River.

The D.O.E. will be monitoring BECOL?s implementation of the recommended Environmental Clearance Plan, under which BECOL will be responsible for developing a ?Mercury Risk Management Program to monitor mercury levels in the fish from the river between the reservoir and downstream from Mollejon?. It will also be BECOL?s duty to create an information program explaining to the local population the health risks that accompany the consumption of mercury-laden fish. The release on the Health Ministry?s website also advised the public to contact the local Public Health Office for more information pertaining to the safe weekly consumption of fish containing mercury.

Amandala contacted Jeavon Hulse, Environmental Officer from the D.O.E, on Tuesday August 29, 2006. When asked why the press release had not been posted on the Department of Environment?s website, Hulse explained, ?that since the concern was a health concern, the Ministry of Health, which was one of the departments who conducted the study, was assigned to take the lead, and so that department posted the results?. He added that the monitoring of BECOL?s execution of the Environmental Clearance Plan ?should commence in about a month, and the public may be informed of the results?. Hulse also acknowledged that, since DOE staff will be extremely meticulous in assessing the procedure, there may be delays in relaying information to the public. But, he said, ?this does not mean that the information will not be accurate and forthcoming?.