The developers of the Epic Nosara real estate project posted a sign of the National Environmental Technical Secretariat (Spanish acronym Setena) on the exterior of the construction site, indicating that the project had received an environmental permit. Although the environmental institution approved the permits, “they did not have the right to start construction” because they were required to notify Setena prior to building, Setena’s Secretary General, Andrés Cortez, explained to La Voz de Guanacaste. After obtaining environmental authorization, the developer then notifies Setena so that a registered Setena environmental regent can supervise that the approved environmental standards are complied with.