The Secretary of the Environmental Policy area of the **National University of Rosario** (UNR) and president of the Institute of Environmental Policy Law of the Bar Association, Matías De Bueno, has requested the creation of an **Environmental Justice** to adapt current legislation in cases of impact such as that of **Petroquímica Bermúdez** (formerly Electroclor), a company in the industrial belt that continues to **contaminate the environment** despite being closed.
De Bueno urged the State to commit and seek private investors to carry out the necessary investments to conduct the appropriate [environmental controls](https://noticiasambientales.com/medio-ambiente/cop29-la-amenaza-ambiental-de-la-planificacion-urbana-descontrolada/).
## Current Situation of Petroquímica Bermúdez
Since the closure of the petrochemical industry in 2013, no remediation tasks have been carried out to address the **environmental damage** caused by the chlorine spill on much of the site.
The site still presents an [environmental liability with traces of mercury](https://noticiasambientales.com/medio-ambiente/presencia-de-mercurio-en-rios-amenaza-la-salud-de-las-comunidades-amazonicas/), asbestos, and other toxic chemicals, with a strong potential for health and environmental damage.
There was a first-instance ruling from the Justice of San Lorenzo indicating air and water contamination and ordering the **cessation of emissions** of a particular gas. However, this ruling was appealed, and only a decade later was it requested to carry out the relevant controls.
## Need for Environmental Justice
“In these cases, a balance is sought between protecting jobs and applying sustainable triple-impact **development**: economic, social, and environmental. However, that balance often leans towards the economic aspect, which is difficult to bear in this country,” De Bueno stated in an interview with the program “Una tarde perfecta,” on LT8.
De Bueno argued: “In this matter, it is clear how much an environmental justice system is needed in the province. We cannot wait 20 years to say that controls are necessary. Since 2013, there should have been compensation for the damage to the community and the implementation of an **environmental restoration fund**.”
He also mentioned that many years ago the company had started taking measures, including an investment of 100 million dollars to change the technology.
## Lack of Adequate Controls
De Bueno pointed out that “we always fall short in adequate controls and in the correct application of air quality regulations, which are outdated and do not reflect the current needs to have proper **air quality** as required by the **World Health Organization** (WHO).”
He considered it crucial not to halt activities but emphasized the importance of assessing hazards capable of causing **high-impact damage**.
“If a court has to assess, it must refer to the regulations to establish guide levels and controls. Who will be in charge of them? A private company? A university? The company must submit a management plan, and there must be an entity to monitor those controls,” De Bueno proposed.
## Claims and Proposals
De Bueno highlighted the need for entities to ensure the security of reports within the framework of Environmental Law and stressed the importance of having adequate budgets, which are usually scarce in the case of the State.
“It is necessary to adjust **environmental legislation** to include the environmental clause; demand from the Executive Branch the implementation of as many controls as possible and seek financing from the private sector to comply with the regulations since this responsibility cannot be solely placed on those providing job sources. Additionally, the creation of an **environmental jurisdiction with environmental courts and prosecutors**, and a scientific body for the generation of evidence is fundamental,” he concluded.
Have you already checked out our YouTube channel? Subscribe!
