Up Front
As Government examinesthe impact of petroleum facilities on the
Cayman Islands, it was announced that the country will soon havea ...
Fuel Inspector Coming
The Cayman Islands will soon have itsfirst Chief Petroleum Inspector (CPI). This was disclosed by Ministerof Planning, Communications, Works and Information Technology,the Hon. Linford Pierson, who told Cayman Net News that such aposition was of critical importance to the country.
"I think the Cayman Islands has reachedthe stage of its development where it is imperative to have aChief Petroleum Inspector.
Government is therefore moving with alacrityin ensuring that such a person is in place", Mr. Piersonsaid in an interview.
Assistant Permanent Secretary in the Ministryof PCW&IT, Mr. Tim Hubbell, said interviews for the CPI postwere conducted Wednesday and Thursday.
"We will now be making a recommendationto the Public Service Commission on that appointment and we arehoping to have the person in place no later than early in thenew year", Mr. Hubbell said.
In addition to the search for a CPI, Governmentis also presently conducting a Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA)of petroleum facilities in the Cayman Islands.
This study will examine the risks associatedwith the location of Esso, Texaco and Home Gas facilities, accordingto Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of PCW&IT, Mr. KearneyGomez.
The QRA, which will cost Government US$74,000.00,is being conducted by Ohio-based Advantage Risk Solutions' Mr.Phil Myers, who arrived here last week.
The report is expected to be submitted toGovernment early next year.
At present, gasoline and diesel comes intoGrand Cayman to Esso and Texaco via submarine pipes at JacksonPoint, while the liquid petroleum gas is pumped to shore througha floating hose.
The appointment of a CPI and the conductingof a QRA resulted from a Petroleum Storage and Handling AssessmentReview which was done in 2000 and tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Hubbell said the three main recommendationsof that report included a more detailed QRA specifically on thepetroleum on-loading operations, the appointment of a CPI andthe amendment of the laws and regulations relating to petroleumstorage and handling which would allow an annual issuing of permitsand an inspecting regime.
In its February 13 to 14, 2002, Edition,Cayman Net News, under a headline "Fuel Farms Pose Danger",quoted from a report entitled "Petroleum Fuels Storage andHandling on the Cayman Islands, Technical Appraisal."
The Government report stated: "We haveserious concerns about the proximity of certain petroleum storageand handling activities with respect to residential locations,institutions such as schools and sensitive marine environments."