{ "id": "case-12-011721-0007-co", "citation": "Exp. 12-011721-0007-CO", "section": "case_summaries", "doc_type": "case_summary", "title_es": "Impacto acumulativo requiere evaluación conjunta de proyectos conexos", "title_en": "Cumulative impact requires joint assessment of connected projects", "summary_es": "La Sala Constitucional analiza un amparo contra la aprobación de vigencias ambientales para dos proyectos de extracción de materiales en el cauce del río Chirripó por parte de SETENA. La parte recurrente alegaba fragmentación ilegal de una misma actividad en dos expedientes D1 para evadir una D2 y la omisión de consulta indígena. La Sala determinó que SETENA incurrió en una violación al principio de evaluación de impacto acumulativo, así como a los derechos de consulta indígena y al ambiente sano. Señaló que cuando varios proyectos están funcional y geográficamente conectados, deben ser evaluados conjuntamente mediante una evaluación de impacto acumulativo. También destacó la obligación de garantizar la participación ciudadana, incluyendo audiencias públicas, especialmente en casos que afectan territorios indígenas. El tribunal anuló las resoluciones de SETENA y ordenó la realización de un estudio de impacto acumulativo con consulta a las comunidades indígenas, protegiendo el principio precautorio y de no regresividad ambiental.", "summary_en": "The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo challenging SETENA's approval of environmental viability for two material extraction projects in the Chirripó River bed. The petitioner argued that a single activity was illegally fragmented into two D1 files to avoid a D2 process, and that indigenous consultation was omitted. The Court found that SETENA violated the cumulative impact assessment principle, indigenous consultation rights, and the right to a healthy environment. It held that when several projects are functionally and geographically connected, they must be assessed jointly via a cumulative impact evaluation. It also emphasized the duty to ensure public participation, including public hearings, particularly when indigenous territories are affected. The court annulled SETENA's resolutions and ordered a cumulative impact study with indigenous consultation, upholding the precautionary and non-regression principles.", "court_or_agency": "", "date": "", "year": "", "topic_ids": [ "environmental-law-7554", "indigenous-law-6172" ], "primary_topic_id": "environmental-law-7554", "es_concept_hints": [ "impacto acumulativo", "fragmentación", "consulta indígena", "audiencia pública", "principio precautorio", "D1", "D2" ], "concept_anchors": [ { "article": "Arts. 22-24", "law": "Ley 7554" }, { "article": "Art. 1", "law": "Ley 6172" }, { "article": "Art. 50", "law": "Constitución Política" } ], "keywords_es": [ "impacto acumulativo", "evaluación de impacto ambiental", "consulta indígena", "SETENA", "amparo ambiental", "fragmentación de proyectos", "audiencia pública", "río Chirripó", "principio precautorio", "D1", "D2", "territorios indígenas" ], "keywords_en": [ "cumulative impact", "environmental impact assessment", "indigenous consultation", "SETENA", "environmental amparo", "project fragmentation", "public hearing", "Chirripó River", "precautionary principle", "D1", "D2", "indigenous territories" ], "excerpt_es": "IV.- DE LA VIOLACIÓN AL PRINCIPIO DE EVALUACIÓN DE IMPACTO ACUMULATIVO Y PARTICIPACIÓN CIUDADANA. … Considera esta Sala que en el presente caso SETENA ha generado un vicio en el procedimiento de evaluación de impacto ambiental al aprobar las vigencias ambientales de los expedientes D1-10282-2012-SETENA y D1-10283-2012-SETENA, pues ha obviado la obligación de evaluar la totalidad de la actividad, de forma conjunta, y a partir de un estudio de impacto ambiental acumulativo, que permita determinar el impacto real de la actividad global proyectada, así como la eventual fragmentación de la misma para evadir controles más rigurosos. … En el presente caso no se garantizó una participación ciudadana amplia y efectiva, pues —en criterio de esta Sala—, a pesar que la recurrente y un grupo de vecinos presentaron oposición, no se realizó una audiencia pública…", "excerpt_en": "IV.- VIOLATION OF THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT ASSESSMENT PRINCIPLE AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION. … This Chamber considers that in the present case SETENA has generated a flaw in the environmental impact assessment procedure by approving the environmental viability of files D1-10282-2012-SETENA and D1-10283-2012-SETENA, since it has ignored the obligation to evaluate the entirety of the activity, jointly, and based on a cumulative environmental impact study, that allows determining the real impact of the projected global activity, as well as the eventual fragmentation of the same to evade more rigorous controls. … In the present case, broad and effective citizen participation was not guaranteed, since —in the Chamber's opinion—, although the petitioner and a group of neighbors presented opposition, a public hearing was not held…", "outcome": { "label_en": "Granted", "label_es": "Con lugar", "summary_en": "The Chamber annulled SETENA's resolutions for violating the cumulative impact assessment principle and indigenous consultation, ordering a joint study of the projects.", "summary_es": "La Sala anuló las resoluciones de SETENA por violar el principio de evaluación de impacto acumulativo y la consulta indígena, ordenando un estudio conjunto de los proyectos." }, "pull_quotes": [ { "context": "Considerando IV", "quote_en": "This Chamber considers that in the present case SETENA has generated a flaw in the environmental impact assessment procedure by approving the environmental viability of files D1-10282-2012-SETENA and D1-10283-2012-SETENA, since it has ignored the obligation to evaluate the entirety of the activity, jointly, and based on a cumulative environmental impact study.", "quote_es": "Considera esta Sala que en el presente caso SETENA ha generado un vicio en el procedimiento de evaluación de impacto ambiental al aprobar las vigencias ambientales de los expedientes D1-10282-2012-SETENA y D1-10283-2012-SETENA, pues ha obviado la obligación de evaluar la totalidad de la actividad, de forma conjunta, y a partir de un estudio de impacto ambiental acumulativo." }, { "context": "Considerando IV", "quote_en": "In the present case, broad and effective citizen participation was not guaranteed, since —in the Chamber's opinion—, although the petitioner and a group of neighbors presented opposition, a public hearing was not held…", "quote_es": "En el presente caso no se garantizó una participación ciudadana amplia y efectiva, pues —en criterio de esta Sala—, a pesar que la recurrente y un grupo de vecinos presentaron oposición, no se realizó una audiencia pública…" } ], "cites": [], "cited_by": [], "references": { "internal": [ { "target_id": "norm-27738", "kind": "concept_anchor", "label": "Ley 7554 Arts. 22-24" }, { "target_id": "norm-38110", "kind": "concept_anchor", "label": "Ley 6172 Art. 1" } ], "external": [ { "ref_id": "nexus-sen-1--551124", "url": 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