27 Apr 2006
Plaintiffs tried to deceive the Court once more during the inspection to Station Sacha Norte-1 Through Misrepresentations and Misleading Photographs
Dr. Pedro Álvarez, Environmental Engineering Professor at Rice University in Houston, Confirmed Chevron's sampling and analysis process as adequate
Nueva Loja, April 27, 2006 – On Wednesday April 26, the President of the Superior Court of Nueva Loja, Dr. Germán Yánez, conducted Judicial Inspection No. 42 to Station Sacha Norte-1, which is part of Petroecuador's ongoing operations.
During the Judicial Inspection, Chevron's attorney presented official documents issued by Petroecuador which detail a series of oil and other products spills that have been produced at this station; these have affected environmental conditions both in the internal as well as in the surrounding areas. He also used several other articles published in the media to stress the station's current conditions.
In addition to this, it was proven through official documents issued by Petroecuador, that in spite of the fact there are formation water reinjection plants at this station as well as in others belonging to the system, thousands of barrels of production waters continued to be discharged into the environment at least until 2003, from this and other station operated by the state owned company.
Dr. Pedro Álvarez, Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor at Rice University in Houston presented testimony during the inspection. He is conducting an evaluation of the sampling and analysis methods used by experts presented by Chevron Corporation at the Judicial Inspection. Dr. Álvarez stated: "my preliminary opinion is that Chevron's program is appropriate to determine if the remediation requirements were met and to evaluate any residual risk which may affect the health of neighboring communities".
As the inspection was about to end, in a desperate intent, plaintiffs' lawyers tried to deceive the Judge by showing a photo mural which supposedly presented photographs of the contaminated zones at Station Sacha Norte-1. Chevron's attorney noticed the ploy and warned the Court about these photographs corresponding to Petroecuador's operations in the last few years which did were not even taken at Sacha Norte-1.
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