Environmental specialist warns of risks to assessment rigor

Cristina López, a specialist from Derecho, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (DAR), has warned that proposed legislative powers granted to the Executive could weaken environmental assessments. The proposal seeks to modify the SEIA and SINEFA systems for 120 days and introduce positive administrative silence for environmental management instruments.

López cautioned that this could allow Environmental Impact Studies to be approved without effective technical review if entities fail to respond within the set timeframe. She specifically noted potential risks to the Manu and Bahuaja Sonene national parks located within the southern gas corridor.

Furthermore, the specialist argued that reducing deadlines is not a solution to evaluation delays, as the issue often stems from the poor quality of studies submitted by private companies. She recommended strengthening the technical and logistical capacities of national and regional entities instead. Regarding the gas sector, she noted that despite Camisea's long-term operation, gas distribution in the south remains pending, necessitating a clearer definition of reserves and supply needs.