MARENA Written Permission for CoolTop

We actually have in our hands the written permission of MARENA for the project. I think there is a lot to be learned from this. Here we go:

• We expected to apply in early December and get it in January. No such luck.
• To build in the reserve, we needed FIDER ok first. We got it.
• The MARENA game went on and on including a version where they said we needed to get permission from the Alcaldia, INTUR and like three other agencies.
• At one point we were told that we couldn't use cement in the reserve. Clearly news to all the other people using it.
• Once MARENA was serious they said we needed FIDER approval again. That took another week or two.
• Even after getting verbal approval, it was about a month before we got this paper. It is less than four pages long and about half boilerplate.

Aside from the restrictions (what trees we can cut, what we can't grow, how to deal with trash, ...) it basically says we now have permission to ask the Alcaldia of San Nicolas for permission to build something. This, I am sure, won't be a problem. They are well aware of what we are doing and what we want to do and have been for about six months.