Mexico’s Army Denied Key Permit in Chetumal

Chetumal, Mexico — The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) has denied the Mexican Army the environmental impact authorization required to construct facilities for a Military Police force in the municipality of Othón P. Blanco. The denial was issued because the Army initiated the clearing of more than 45,000 square meters of land without prior authorization.

This marks the first time during the current federal administration that permits for an Army project have been denied.

Authorization Denied Due to Land Clearing

In this instance, Semarnat specifically denied the permit to the armed forces for contravening articles 28, sections VII and IX, and 30 of the General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection (LGEEPA), as well as article 5, sections O), fraction I and Q) of the Regulations of the Environmental Impact Assessment (REIA). The denial was due to the loss of the preventive character of the environmental impact authorization, a consequence of the Army having already changed the land use of forested areas spanning 45,531.11 square meters, which contained medium-height semi-evergreen tropical forest vegetation. The Army had also begun construction of the project's works, which were reported to be at an advanced stage of development.

In addition to the refusal, Semarnat has referred the Army to the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) so that the agency, "within the scope of its competence and in the exercise of its powers, determines the appropriate actions regarding the initiation of works and activities without the respective authorization," as stated in the resolution published in Semarnat's Ecological Gazette.

Details of the Unauthorized Project

The works that the Army had already begun without authorization are described as "installations with functional spaces, rest areas, infrastructure for maintenance and equipment storage, as well as systems that contribute to the efficient management of resources for the Military Police Corps and for Companies of the National Guard, specifically National Guard Companies Cap. 150 and 210."

According to a document with illustrative photographs, officials identified "the removal of existing vegetation and, consequently, the change of land use of forested areas over a surface of 45,531.11 m2, with medium-height semi-evergreen tropical forest vegetation, as well as a significant advancement in the construction of the infrastructure that makes up the project."