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US Capital Ready To Drill
posted (July 25, 2014)
US Capital Energy, the Government, and Mayan Communities of the South have been ordered to participate in court-ordered mediation, but the oil company isn't waiting around: it announced today that it should be ready to start drilling within a months' time.

A press release from the company says that the first 8 truckloads of their oil rig equipment have arrived at the Temash 2 Drill site. Dr. Mike Tewes, US Capital's Health, Safety and Environment Officer has been on the ground overseeing the assembly of the rig.

There will a total of 52 truckloads of rig equipment, and the company estimates that they will complete its assembly in 2 to 3 weeks' time.

Because they are now dealing with dangerous equipment on the ground at the Temash 2 Drill Pad, Dr. Tewes spoke with us via telephone and implored members of the public not to make unauthorized trips unto the site because their health could be put at risk.

Dr. Michael Tewes, Health Safety Envir. Manager - US Capital
"US Capital is advising the public that the first convoy of trucks, 8 trucks entered our location from the Mexican border with the drill rig that will be setup at the Temash 2 drill site in Toledo. We also met yesterday with the Toledo Alcalde Association leadership to discuss the concerns raised by the alcaldes and we also gave them a tour of the site and describe to them all the environmental mitigation that the company has put in place to ensure that no environmental occurs at that location. As well we reached an agreement with the alcaldes to keep them updated on the progress we made of the site so that they can be kept abreast of all the activities."

"At the same time we address the issue of safety at the worksite and the need for proper authorization to enter that site. We will ensure that when possible we can give the association leaders a visit to the site properly accustomed by safety personnel to ensure their personal safety. This concern is now a real one since they will be working with heavy equipment and proper safety procedures that must be adhere to. We would also like to advise the general public that this is a dangerous worksite if proper protocols are not followed and we strongly advised that no unauthorized or illegal visits must be made to the site."

Daniel Ortiz
"What will happen in the event any of the Mayan communities from the south decide that they will defy the advice of the company and make unauthorized entries onto the drill site?"

Dr. Michael Tewes
"Well that's why we are advising people. The government has told us that we can proceed with our work and the government will be looking and assisting in the event of any activism or any activities in that area. At the moment we are doing our best to keep the leadership engaged. We are doing our best to brief them and to keep them up to date with what is happening. There is nothing that is being hidden back there and we stand ready to explore with them all the questions that they may have and answer them as best we can."

While the company reportedly has the support of the Toledo Alcaldes Association, what about the NGO SATIIM? They were the co-managers of the SarstoonTemash National Park and the Temash #2 Drill Site occupies a small part of the park. That has been a particularly sore issue SATIIM. Greg Ch'oc told us yesterday that even though, their co-management contract with the government expired, and was not renewed, SATIIM still patrols the area:

Reporter
"Do you still consider yourselff the co-manager?"

Greg Ch'oc - Executive Director, SATIIM
"The community certainly considers themselves the owners of those lands which has been established by Justice Michelle Arana's ruling, so the community goes along with the help of SATIIM to continue presence and monitoring of the land inside the park, that has not stop."

Since Ch'oc, SATIIM, and the other claimants in the case before the Appeal Court believe that US Capital is defying the Supreme Court by continuing its oil exploration operations, the arrival and assembly of the drill parts will undoubtedly be closely monitored.

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