PWA Principals Provide Expert Witness Testimony at the International Court of Justice in the Hague!

PWA Principals Bill Weaver and Danny Hagans made a special trip to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands to help resolve a complex and ongoing border dispute between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The ICJ, commonly referred to as the World Court, is the primary judicial branch of the United Nations. Dr. Weaver and Mr. Hagans were brought in to these proceedings to conduct investigations, provide scientific analysis, and give expert witness testimony to an international 15 judge panel regarding the effects of road-related erosion on water quality and aquatic habitat associated with the construction of over 100 km of unpaved road along the border between the two neighboring countries which straddle the San Juan River.

While the partially-constructed road, Route 1856, is located within Costa Rican Territory, Nicaragua contends that massive sediment pollution derived from road construction is negatively impacting the adjacent San Juan River which is entirely within Nicaraguan territory. The alleged increase in sediment loading to the San Juan River is resulting in the need to frequently dredge the river to maintain navigability and threatens the health of aquatic habitat downstream. The dispute has been ongoing since 2010. The ICJ is anticipated to make a final ruling on the case in late 2015 or early 2016.

For a Costa Rican perspective on the dispute, check out this article in the Tico Times:http://www.ticotimes.net/2015/04/14/costa-rica-nicaragua-enter-final-hearings-at-the-hague-in-border-dispute. Another perspective can be found here in the Gulf Times: http://www.gulf-times.com/us-latin%20america/182/details/435031/costa-rica-accuses-nicaragua-of-%E2%80%98invasion%E2%80%99.