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Wildlife
Municipalidad approved the start of operations of the Gas Station
By Oliver Pérez

On December 21st, eight years of disputes between the Nosara Civic Association (NCA) and the gas station’s owner, Roberto Suárez Villalobos, were left behind as the Consejo Municipal (Town Council) granted the operation permits for the gas station; six out of the seven councillors were in favor of granting the permits – José Antonio Méndez was the only one who opposed–.

At 2 p.m., nearly thirty Nosareños arrived at the municipal offices with the purpose of requesting that the councillors grant the permits. Councillor José Antonio Méndez justified his opposition to the agreement. According to the him, the Council should have awaited for the Tribunal Ambiental to analyze the report that was requested by the Biology School of the Universidad de Costa Rica and the Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, so that they would be able to determine if the area is considered a wetland.

“This is why I let President Mary Luz Gómez know that it was best to wait for the Tribunal Ambiental’s ruling; if this was not done, the Municipalidad will have to pay for the damages incurred. I understand the need for a gas station but it must be established in an adequate place. Gómez did not allow me to be part of the voting process, thereby taking away my rights as a councillor. In spite of this, I requested that it be put on record that I voted against it. Now all we can do is wait for the reactions and let the town council assume the consequences”, mentioned Nosara’s councillor.

Marcel Schaerer, Vice-President of the Nosara Civic Association, expressed his disagreement with what he feels was a rushed decision, on behalf of the town council, to grant the permits. “The Council will not have the final saying because our struggle is not over yet; we will appeal this decision because they should have waited for the Tribunal Ambiental to have the final word”, stated the businessman.

Emel Rodríguez Director, at the time, of the Área de Conservación Tempisque (ACT) showed at the start of this year, through a study done by the wetlands expert, Juan Bravo, that such a site of blueprint G-546525-84 is not a wetland and therefore, the project should be declared viable; this was the request or recommendation given by the Secretaría Técnica Ambiental (Setena). Based on this information, both Setena and the Ministerio de Ambiente, Energía y Telecomunicaciones agreed to its operation.

Roberto Quirós Coronado, who represents the Suarez’s, told the Voice of Nosara that it is now time to conclude this five-year dispute. “In July, Setena ruled that the area is not a wetland and therefore, Minister Jorge Rodriguez granted the concession of the service; with this almost all the necessary permits were done and it was only necessary for the Municipalidad to grant the commercial license. Now a long and tiresome process is finally over”, expressed with satisfaction the gas station’s legal advisor.

On December 21st, at 6 p.m., the gas station was opened and it is dispensing fuel.

More Regional News

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Sámara A.S.A.D.A. Prepares for 2010 - Water Board Enters the New Year with
Inadequate Budget and One Less Member

On Saturday November 21st Members of Samara’s Water Board met for the Annual Sámara AyA Assembly in Samara’s community hall to announce and analyze Board Member reports, hear motions and agreements, and elect 2010 Board members. The assembly presented the 15-20 attendees with the 2009 annual budget, aquifer water level records and the opportunity to voice questions and commentaries of the community. More >

Ruling Threatens Water Board Finances

The water board, or Asada, for the American Project must comply with a regulatory order to sharply reduce its rates to levels charged by other Asadas in Costa Rica, and while an appeal will be successful, it must lower its rates for the months during the repeal, it was reported at an emergency meeting Dec. 16. More >

According to the Sala Constitucional not everyone will have to leave Ostional

The most recent ruling issued by the Sala Constitucional ordered the Ministerio Ambiente, Energía y Telecomunicaciones (Minaet) and the Dirección Regional del Área de Conservación Tempisque (ACT) to evict only the individuals or corporate entities that may affect the massive nesting of the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle at the Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Ostional. More >

The “Mujeres de Matapalo” Project receives government help to start Micro-Business

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Nosara's Periferal Bus Service is still not possible

The 30 kilometers that separate Nosara from Samara have become an ordeal for those who use this road on a daily basis to travel to Nicoya and vice-versa, using mainly the bus service for doing so.

According to Eliecer Rojas, General Manager of the Traroc, the bus company currently in charge of providing the Nicoya-Nosara bus service, it is pitiful that the service cannot be provided in an adequate way, since road conditions do not allow the company to make use of top class vehicles. More >

Nicoya City Urban Area Routes Come to Stand Still

The traffic disorder experience in the city of Nicoya during the last few months continues to bother and worry residents, who urgently require a new code. Absent, fallen or poorly placed road signs, blurry or nonexistent boundaries, vehicles parked in yellow zones or taxi stands and cars going the wrong way any hour of the day are some of the irregularities seen in the case of colonial Nicoya’s urban city center.
More >

Change From Analog TV to Digital Off to a Controversial Start

The step from the analog television system to digital television in Costa Rica had its first controversies after the government formed a commission to analyze which is the most convenient platform for the country, without taking in to account the University of Costa Rica (UCR). On November 5th the Minister of the Presidency, Rodrigo Arias, announced the formation of the Special Mixed Commission that will be headed by the vice minister of Telecommunications, Hannia Vega. This commission must provide a report by March 30th 2010, with the end result to make a decision of which of the five available technologies the country will adapt. More >

 

 

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