Bahamas Information Services Updates
Vopak Bahamas Report - Ministry of the Environment‏
Nov 20, 2009 - 4:43:38 PM

Freeport, Grand Bahama - On Wednesday, Nov ember 11, 2009, a DEHS team from New Providence, travelled to Freeport, Grand Bahama, on a two (2) day fact finding mission to investigate environmental concerns expressed by the residents of the Pinder ’ s Point Community involving a neighboring facility Vopak Bahamas Terminal the former Bahamas Oil Refining Company (BORCO). The environmental concerns involved:

undefined undefined 1. A recent fire at the Vopak Facility;

undefined undefined 2. Hydrogen sulfide gas (H₂S) odors within the community allegedly resulting from Vopak ’ s activities; and

undefined undefined 3. Presence of petroleum in water piped to the neighboring community of Pinder ’ s Point.

The environmental concerns expressed by the residents were examined using a seven (7) phase environmental assessment strategy. The assessment phases involved:

Phase 1: Initial meeting at the Technical Component Division of the Grand Bahama Port Authority

Phase 2: Visit to Vopak ’ s Facility and meet with representatives to discuss:

• The cause of a recent fire at the facility
•   Possible odors emanating from the facility and its impact on neighboring
• residents
•   Smoke stack emissions
•   Tank blasting
•   Impacts of other industrial operations
•   Complaints by residents involving the presence of oil in water
•   Ground water monitoring...