The Central Government Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM) will carry out follow-up research on the environmental impacts of Bonaire Petroleum Corporation (BOPEC) fire at the Goto Lake provided the Executive Council of Bonaire submits a formal request for such to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment.
The follow-up chemical research will in the first instance focus on the eventual environmental hazards of the possible existence and spread of polluted material in the soil, groundwater, organism and silt of the Goto Lake. Moreover, follow-up research will also be conducted for the presence of PFOS (perfluor, octane, sulphonate), a material which accumulates in the environment and is difficult to degrade. Until recently PFOS could still be found in fire extinguisher foam but has meanwhile been
prohibited in the Netherlands. Previous RIVM study of the Goto Lake has shown that environmental risks of PFOS cannot be excluded. It was recommended to perform additional research.
De RIVM will prepare the programme of requirements for this study in close consultation with the management of Space and Development of the Public Entity Bonaire. It is expected that the research can be concluded this year. Based on the results of the follow-up research it is for the Executive Council to evaluate if follow-up measures are necessary and if yes, which possible measures are required and who is responsible for this.
The Executive Council has also requested financial support at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation for research by research institute Imares to the possible consequences for nature, such as the demise of flamingos in the Goto Lake. Groen Links-Member of Parliament, Ineke van Gent, recently asked questions about this in Parliament. Such a study is only meaningful if the results of the RIVM follow-up research is available and actual environmental hazards are indicated. At this moment there is no demonstrated link between the decline in the number of flamingos and possible chemical material in the Goto Lake caused the fire at BOPEC.