Ecobreves – GUATEMALA: Regulations for Gas Emissions

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GUATEMALA CITY, Jul 4 2005 (IPS) - Guatemala's Environment and Natural Resources Ministry is drawing up regulations for gas emissions — and could take effect before the end of the year. “Workshops are being conducted by representatives and technicians from the state institutions related to the issue… (and later) we will begin a consensus-building phase with segments of civil society so that the regulations gain legitimacy,” Alvaro Véliz, deputy environment minister and head of the project, told Tierramérica.

The project will cover emissions from mobile sources (vehicles) and fixed sources (industry).

A recent study by the public Guatemalan University of San Carlos established that in some points of the capital there are as many as 224 micrograms per cubic meter of suspended particulate matter, produced by combustion of petroleum products or plant-based fuels.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency accepts a maximum average of 75 micrograms per cubic meter.