In response to a query from Senator James, the Minister of Transport Nigel Stephenson provided a detailed breakdown of the environmental safeguards governing the extraction of volcanic material from the Roseau Valley.
Minister Stephenson confirmed that an ESIA, conducted by environmentalist Dr. Reynold Murray, was completed in April 2026 to identify and mitigate risks.
Key environmental findings and measures include:
- Coastal Stability: The Minister stated there would be no dredging of the seabed; instead, the operation focuses on removing loose materials brought down by the river to reduce sedimentation that can harm marine life.
- Flood Mitigation: Harvesting the excess “rabacca” material is viewed as river maintenance, which increases the river’s capacity to handle floodwaters, thereby reducing the risk of flooding in nearby communities.
- Marine Ecosystems: To protect local waters, the government has mandated the use of silt screens around the loading ramp and requires all machinery maintenance to be performed in a prepared area with grease traps to prevent oil pollution.
- Fisheries: The Minister noted that the loading ramp only extends 52 feet into the sea to minimize disruption to traditional seine fishing, and BRAGSA has committed to working closely with local fishers.