Citizen participation in environmental matters in the province of Tucumán: The crematorium case study

Abstract

This article analyzes the legal phenomenon of citizen participation within the Environmental Impact Assessment procedure in the province of Tucumán, through the presentation of a case study called "Crematorium", which has been taken after an extensive field review. In particular, it focuses on the complex environmental normative framework applicable to the case in question and the factual circumstances reconstructed by means of documentary sources, seeking the correlation between this "right of access" and the constitutional right to a healthy environment. At the time of examining the specific case, the scope of the conflict generated as a result of the environmental issue and the resulting institutional solution which required the involvement of other State entities such as the Ombudsman's Office of the province and the legislative power, are delimited. Through the exposition of this case we seek to highlight how the timely participation of citizens in this kind of proceedings exceeds mere formality to become a central issue.