CaboRon - 3-16-2011 at 07:13 AM
By Sandra Dibble
Originally published March 14, 2011 at 7:11 p.m., updated March 15, 2011 at 11:04 a.m.
The city of Ensenada is suspending its bid to shut down Sempra Energy's Costa Azul LNG terminal—at least for now.
More than a month after Mayor Enrique Pelayo Torres sent police to shut down the $1.2-billion plant, his administration has found itself forced to
reverse its stance. On Monday, the city issued an order stating that the company's operations will be allowed to continue.
The municipal order is the result of a federal judge's ruling late last week that compels Pelayo's administration to desist from any action curbing
the plant's operations. A document signed by Lourdes Oliva Valdez, head of the city's land registry and urban development department, said the plant's
permits cannot be revoked for the time being.
The city's reversal is the latest twist in a battle being fought on legal and political fronts to shut down Sempra's Costa Azul operation. Mayor
Pelayo has alleged that the terminal's permits were improperly issued and that the facility constitutes a risk to city residents. Last month, Mexico's
federal legislature called for a review of the facility's permits.
Despite the dispute, the terminal has never stopped operating, and state and federal authorities have staunchly defended the legality of the plant's
operations. Mexico's Energy Minister, José Antonio Meade, told Dow Jones in Houston last week that "the federal government is politically committed to
make sure that the rule of law is observed in the case of Sempra and all other cases." Meade said "we have been watching the situation very carefully
because it's a very important investment. The plant is open and we foresee it will stay that way."
Last week's ruling by federal judge in Ensenada said the city government could not take any action curbing the plant's operations while the company's
complaint against the city remains under litigation.
Jorge de Hoyos, an attorney representing Sempra, said the company originally obtained protection from the federal court in early February for any
actions from the city affecting its operations. Judge Juan Manuel García Figueroa, issued a second ruling on Friday, stressing that the plant should
be allowed to operate until the legal issues are resolved.
A spokeswoman for the Pelayo's administration said Tuesday that the city would not be issuing a statement on the latest development.
durrelllrobert - 3-18-2011 at 11:23 AM
from yesterday's baja daily news:
by Baja Daily News (BDN) on 03/17/11
Ensenada, BC - The Federal Environmental Protection (Profeopa) reported that the inspection made on the Energia Costa Azul plant, a subsidiary of
Sempra Energy, found no serious irregularities and is only administrative sanctions apply.
Assistant Attorney Industrial Inspection, Janet Manzo Hernandez, said that inspections carried out from 8 to 11 March in regasification that "no
serious irregularities were found to endanger public health or to the surrounding population, ie no an imminent risk of ecological imbalance. "
He explained that the review was conducted in three areas: environmental impact and risk, environmental emissions and hazardous waste management.
Manzo said that the inspection Hernández threw only administrative comments, which have to be corrected by the company within five days after
official notification.
He said the inspection by the Profepa due to several citizen requests and details of the review will be made public once it is completed
administrative review of the regasification process.
Industrial Inspection Assistant Attorney added that he also reviewed the permits and federal authorizations and environmental character and all the
documentation submitted was in order.