The Ministry of the Environment (MiAmbiente) fined a bodywork and paint shop $9,999.00 for illegally dumping chemical waste into the Matasnillo River in Panama City, causing serious environmental pollution.
Ensuring the environmental safety of citizens and enforcing environmental laws, MiAmbiente, through the Environmental Performance Verification Directorates (DIVEDA) and the Metropolitan Regional Directorate (METRO), imposed the aforementioned sanction on the offending workshop that dumped its hydrocarbon and oil waste into the Matasnillo River.
In response to a citizen complaint published on social media, which described the damage and contamination of the river, the institution proceeded to impose the sanction indicated by law in response to this serious environmental impact.
Likewise, work has already been carried out jointly with the Panama Bay Sanitation Program (PSP), who have sent to this public institution the technical reports where this and other types of pollutant discharges into the Matasnillo, Curundú and other rivers located in Panama City are evident.
In addition to the financial penalty that applies to this type of serious violation of the environment, adjustments may also be ordered and, depending on the severity of the case, the future suspension of commercial activities.
MiAmbiente is currently organizing an operation to detect other possible illegal discharges into the Matasnillo River, a joint effort that will be carried out with technical field staff from the National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (IDAAN), the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) and PSP.
The Ministry maintains its commitment at the national level, as a regulatory body, to respond immediately to all environmental complaints that are filed, thereby fulfilling its legal and constitutional responsibility.
MiAmbiente strongly requests all companies, businesses and citizens of the Republic to please fully comply with the laws and regulations of the country, in order to avoid fines and sanctions resulting from actions that contaminate or destroy the country’s natural resources.
The institution also thanks and requests all citizens to continue reporting violations of the country’s environmental laws.
