Mexico, Central America and Caribbean
Representative Projects
EMS Audit and Support, Bahamas
Providing support to a rum distillery in support of its initiative to achieve ISO 14001 certification. Conducted an EMS audit to assess the company's performance in relation to the ISO 14001 standard. Toured site and reviewed production processes. Provided recommendations to revise the company's environmental procedures to conform with ISO 14001. Assisting company in revising their procedures according to recommendations. Reviewing company’s ISO 14001 implementation plan to ensure that company achieves certification by its target date. *top
Natural Resource Damage Assessment Training Workshop, Costa Rica
On behalf of the Central American non-governmental organization (NGO) Justicia Para La Naturaleza, an EI attorney and policy analyst conducted training and capacity building regarding the litigation of natural resource damage cases including one involving injuries to protected areas from alleged unlawful activity. Provided advice to a sister NGO regarding the development of a mediation program. *top
Environmental Training, Costa Rica
For the National Association of State Development Agencies, developed course materials and provided training to facility managers in Costa Rica regarding ISO 14001-based EMSs. Course included the basics of an ISO 14001-conforming EMS including an analysis of environmental aspects and applicable environmental laws and conventions. *top
Environmental Law Training Course, Costa Rica
On behalf of two environmental NGOs, Justicia para la Naturaleza and Fundacion AMBIO, conducted a training course for Costa Rican lawyers, judges and engineers regarding natural resource damage law and law related to liability schemes in oil spills. The training involved adaptation of US environmental laws and statutes to the Costa Rican legal system through analysis of both laws. *top
Environmental Institutional Capacity Building, Dominican Republic
On behalf of USAID, conducted a series of training seminars on environmental concepts, strategic planning and environmental law for the Procuradoría Fiscal del Distrito Nacional (District Attorney's Office) in the Dominican Republic. The seminars contributed to raising the level of awareness in the Procuradoría about current environmental issues affecting human health and the environment including threats to ecosystems and natural resources, toxicology, air pollution, water contamination and laboratory sampling techniques. Working closely with the Procuradoría, EI developed a manual outlining approaches for strategic planning. EI's technical team also provided assistance on the development of voluntary compliance initiatives to improve environmental performance. ISO 14001 was being used as a voluntary mechanism to achieve continuous environmental improvement and increase profits for businesses. The seminars helped the Procuradoría to better understand environmental scenarios and coordinate the environmental activities with other government agencies. *top
Environmental Manual and Training Course for the Honduran Public Ministry, Honduras
For USAID, developed and conducted environmental law course in Honduras for 50 judges, prosecutors, environmental inspectors and others as well as provided advice regarding principles of case development to the Fiscalia (Special Prosecutor’s Office). Course topics included development of strategic plans for environmental protection, coordination of efforts by various agencies, and databases that could be used to support environmental enforcement efforts. Taught principles of strategic planning in environmental protection and enforcement programs, environmental law and enforcement and made recommendations to officials of the US and Honduran governments regarding processes that could be used to develop strategic environmental protection/enforcement plans for the country. The course lectures were combined with interactive case studies centered on the practical use of various Honduran environmental laws. Reviewed with the Fiscalia the types of information that should be collected and maintained for proper case development and discussed the theories of law which can be used for these actions. *top
Resource Management Plan Assistance, Mexico
Provided services involving development of a study surveying seabirds nesting on Mexican islands and assessing the birds' status. The study provided information useful for long-term resource management plans. *top
Natural Resource Management Training Course, Mexico
On behalf of the Mexican scientific center, CICESE, provided training in natural resource management and statistics to 25 Mexican government scientists. *top
Gap Analysis and EMS Development Assistance, Puerto Rico
Conducted a gap analysis for a television manufacturing company's EMS to identify any areas requiring strengthening and provided advice regarding what steps the company should take to ensure a successful third-party certification audit. Reviewed company's EMS for conformance with ISO 14001, including objectives and targets, identification of environmental aspects, tests of significance for environmental aspects, standard operating procedures and corrective action mechanisms. Developed and presented customized training on the ISO 14001 EMS and provided internal auditor training. *top
Response to the T/V Puerto Rican Oil Spill and Injury Determination, Puerto Rico
Assisted in the response to the T/V Puerto Rican oil spill and the injury determination for seabirds. Summarized natural resource injury data and assisted with a report summarizing the impacts of the spill. For trustee agencies including NOAA and California resource agencies, provided expert witness and technical assistance relating to resource damages. *top
Litigation Support for Spill in Coral Reef Environment Involving Contaminated Sediments, US Virgin Islands
Provided advice and support in connection with a matter in the Virgin Islands involving PAH- contaminated marine sediments in a fragile coral reef environment. Analyzed potential liability for penalties and/or natural resource damages under a host of federal and state laws including CERCLA, RCRA, OPA and Territorial CWA, and advised client regarding case development. As an integral part of support settlement negotiations/litigation, considered and analyzed Washington State marine sediment standards and protocols associated with contaminated sediment sampling. *top
NPL Site Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Cost Allocation, US Virgin Islands
Developed an injury determination and restoration plan for a NRDA site. Conducted portions of the injury determination addressing injuries to flora and fauna in the area. Prepared a cost allocation for natural resource damages at an NPL site. Analyzed the current law concerning CERCLA liability and considered the applicability of the petroleum exclusion and the federal permit defense. Reviewed and analyzed thousands of pages of documents and deposition testimony regarding historic practices and site conditions. Addressed issues such as toxicity of substances, contribution to the harm and character of harm. Identified the universe of potentially responsible parties over which the allocation would occur, identified the insolvent parties and developed and calculated shares for each party. Prepared a thorough report supporting the allocation outlining the legal and scientific basis for selection of potentially responsible parties, containing an analysis of the basis of the allocation scores for each of the parties. *top
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