The Prosecutor’s Office already has the case
The Secretary of the Environment, Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, confirmed it: there are already complaints filed with the Attorney General’s Office of the Republic for the spilling of hydrocarbons in the Gulf. The official message, however, comes with an important nuance.
Bárcena assured that, until now, no severe environmental damage has been detected in the affected areas. That statement is what raises more questions than answers amid public alarm.
And the legal actions?
During a conference, the official explained the path they are following. The Safety, Energy and Environment Agency (ASEA) has already filed the corresponding legal remedies against whoever is responsible. It is the first formal step in what could be a long process.
Meanwhile, different federal agencies are carrying out studies to evaluate the real impact. The focus is especially on a critical point: the Veracruzano Reef System National Park. A fragile ecosystem that is now under the microscope.
The tours of the environmental authorities through Veracruz, Campeche and Tabasco have not found a significant impact on flora and fauna… at least not on a large scale. But here comes the inevitable ‘but’.
Bárcena acknowledged the obvious: some specimens have indeed been affected. That is why constant surveillance and a more detailed evaluation is maintained. The words ‘until now’ weigh like a stone in every statement.
The Federal Environmental Protection Agency gave specific numbers: they treated six animals with the presence of hydrocarbons – three birds and three turtles. All were rehabilitated and released. Good news in the midst of chaos.
But no one lets their guard down. The authorities reiterated that monitoring will continue to determine possible additional impacts on biodiversity. The political theater around the ecological disaster has just raised the curtain. And we are all waiting for the next act.
