Over the course of the development of its environmental impact assessment (EIA), Disney Cruise Line has continued to tweak its plan for the Lighthouse Point property and is satisfied that it has addressed the many concerns received from environmentalists and other bodies, the company’s Vice President of Public Affairs Kim Prunty said yesterday.
Local environmentalists have been outspoken about their objection to development at Lighthouse Point, even taking their lobby against Disney’s project to other environmental advocates in the United States.
However, Prunty, who spoke with the media virtually, said that Disney has developed what is likely the most extensive EIA in Bahamian history, to ensure that it captures all environmental concerns about its development, advertised as a low-density project.
Prunty said Disney has gone so far as to relocate its back-of-house area to avoid old ruins and to rework its open-trestle pier, so that it avoids any coral heads in the construction area.
Dr. Mark Penning, vice president of Disney’s Animals, Science & Environment, who also presented to the media, said any coral that could potentially be damaged by the construction of the pier or its existence will be relocated.
And while there may have been concerns about the development site being ground zero for turtle nesting, Penning said no evidence of such activity has been observed.
According to Prunty, Disney has been in talks with environmental groups from the beginning and has responded to many queries from them.
“We’ve also had at least one conversation where we’ve walked (environmental group) members through our entire project at Lighthouse Point,” Prunty said.
“We have had that engagement. There are a number of environmental and conservation organizations that we’ve engaged with from the beginning that have provided valuable feedback and input to the EIA.
“Questions have continued to come to us and we have continued to answer. I feel very comfortable that we have addressed the feedback that we received up to this point.”
With the project’s EIA now formally available on the lighthousepointbahamas.com website, the public consultation on the document’s findings will begin.
Prunty said Disney will continue to engage with all stakeholders throughout this process and answer any questions not already covered by the EIA.
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source https://thenassauguardian.com/disney-satisfied-eia-addresses-environmental-concerns/
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