Legality of environmental clearance

Press Release – Department of the Environment – March 31, 2015 – The Department of the Environment (DOE), hereby informs the general public of an issue related to Environmental Clearance granted to a project by the DOE.
Environmental Clearance is required by law, under the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations as amended, and is granted through a letter by the DOE. Environmental Clearance granted to developers /investors is contingent upon the signing of an Environmental Compliance Plan (ECP). The ECP is an agreement signed between the DOE and the developer for a specific project. Both the Environmental Clearance letter and the ECP are issued ONLY to a particular developer and as such are NOT transferable to any other developer, entity or company.
Therefore the DOE takes this opportunity to advise that owners who have purchased investments/property for which the previous owner was granted Environmental Clearance, be aware that the Environmental Clearance is non-transferrable. The new owners are encouraged to apply to the DOE for Environmental Clearance for that investment under their new company or entity. Environmental Clearance can only be obtained from the DOE based on an environmental screening process. It is important for developments in Belize to operate under the best environmental safety standards in order to minimize potential negative impacts to human health and the environment.
For further information, please contact: Chief Environmental Officer Department of the Environment, Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries & Sustainable Development Market Square, Belmopan. Tel: 822-2548/2819 – Fax: 822-2860 – Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Website: www.doe.gov.bz