The Technical Services [TS] department plays a critical role in the delivery of the Authority’s core strategic initiatives:

Clean air – Air pollution is the most widespread form of pollution in Trinidad and Tobago affecting the entire population – especially children. Air monitoring is presently conducted in Pt Lisas and Toco. The EMA has also been working with the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards with regard to exhaust emissions.

Clean water – the primary objective of the EMA’s clean water strategy is to control, reduce and prevent water pollution into the waters of Trinidad and Tobago.

The most serious factors affecting water quality are related to the following:

• Direct discharge of industrial effluent
• Leachate from landfills
• Leakage from service stations underground storage tanks [UST]
• Oil production
• Direct and indirect discharge of sewage effluent (including seepage from septic tanks and pit privates)
• Deforestation
• Direct and indirect discharges of waste
• Dumping of domestic refuse and other solid wastes
• Agricultural and domestic chemicals

Healthy Ecosystems – The EMA understands the importance of managing both marine and terrestrial protected areas particularly in these times of increased social, economic, and environmental climatic changes.

Noise Management – This strategy aims towards protecting human health and the environment from the effects of noise.

And Waste Management – The EMA recognizes that the T&T economy is heavily dependent on the oil and gas industry and there exists a potential for extensive destruction from emergency spills and accidents.

The tools used by TS to meet these strategy objectives include:

• The implementation of the CEC process, which manages the impact of new developments in all environmental media
• Research on Noise Pollution and the development of codes of conduct for activities that produce noise
• The implementation of a variation system for noise management, and the subsequent enforcement of the noise standards.
• Research on both ground and surface water pollution
• Implementation and enforcement of the WPCRs
• Clean-up of selected hazardous waste sites
• Conducting research and monitoring of air pollution and related health concerns
• Participating in Government’s efforts to manage waste
• Conducting research on areas and species considered ecologically sensitive
• Declaring and managing through stakeholders environmentally sensitive areas and species
• Developing public education materials for ecological issues

The focus of the department’s work also includes the State of the Environment Reports

This Department, in collaboration with the Corporate Relations and Public Education Department ensures that the public is made aware of:

• Certification and registration programs
• The Relevant application forms needed
• Permitting systems e.g. water pollution
• All Process time-lines
• The feedback mechanisms available for public involvement and comment
• The EMA standards and regulations
• Compliance assistance availability
• The Legal consequences of their actions
• The Details of each Act on record e.g. Litter,