Environmental Tribunal Accepts Challenge Against Approval of Santa María La Farfana Treatment Plant

Original article: 2° Tribunal Ambiental admite reclamación contra aprobación de Planta de Tratamiento Santa María La Farfana

The Second Environmental Tribunal has accepted the challenge against the approval of the Santa María La Farfana Treatment Plant, one of the projects that President José A. Kast has indicated he would seek to «accelerate.»

This new facility is promoted by Aguas Santiago Norte S.A., and was approved by the Environmental Evaluation Commission (Coeva), despite opposition from the Municipality of Maipú and local residents.

As a result, the news has been met with optimism in the community, highlighting that it strengthens access to environmental justice and reaffirms communities’ rights to have decisions that may affect their territories reviewed according to the law and the principles of the Escazú Agreement.

Mayka Martínez, the environmental coordinator from La Farfana, stated that «the admission of this challenge represents hope for those of us who have defended our territory for years.»

«This step shows that communities have the right to request that environmental decisions be reviewed when there are grounds to justify it. We trust that this process will allow for a serious, transparent, and rigorous analysis, as protecting the environment is also about safeguarding health, quality of life, and the future of our communities,» she added.

Meanwhile, environmental advocate Bárbara Astudillo Delgado said the acceptance of this challenge marks a significant advancement for environmental justice in Chile, as it «demonstrates that communities have the right to have decisions that may impact the environment examined by courts when there are justifiable grounds.»

«Access to justice is one of the pillars of the Escazú Agreement and an essential guarantee to strengthen environmental democracy. We hope this process will allow for a thorough review of the evidence and contribute to greater protection of the rights of people and nature,» emphasized Bárbara Astudillo.