information (with all our reservations about CEDHA)
Press Release
May 4, 2011 - San Juan Argentina. The Foundation Centre for Human Rights and Environment (CEDHA) today published a report noting that the courses water near the Veladero and Pascua Lama projects, both belonging to the Canadian miner Barrick Gold, shown in some cases, the concentration levels of heavy metals, fats and oils exceeding the limits permitted by the mining environmental legislation. In others, the limits above the baseline established by the same company.
The research, conducted by the Italian scientist Flaviano Bianchini, says that while measurements made between 2002 and 2007 some elements such as lead, arsenic, aluminum, mercury and other metals had dissolved constant values, showed a sharp increase from the year 2009. The expected values \u200b\u200bin some cases exceed 150 times the maximum recorded in these measurements, variation can not be achieved by natural causes. It is clear that the peaks of pollution caused by mining activities underway in Veladero, coupled with the exploration and development of Pascua Lama.
turn, especially in the Draft Veladero, concentrations of lead, arsenic and aluminum exceeded the maximum permitted by the National Law 24585 (Environmental Regulations of the Mining Code). They are also alarming levels measured oils and fats, as some records soaring mercury in public monitoring developed by the Center for the Prevention of Environmental Pollution Industrial Mining (CIPCAMI) from San Juan, which are not reported in the private monitoring company.
The research was done on the basis of environmental public information requested by the Foundation CEDHA during the years 2009 and 2010, through a series of requests for information, presented along with some residents of the city of Jáchal. Requirements, but denied initially by the Ministry of Mines, were answered in part through the intervention of the Ombudsman of the Province of San Juan, whose role is to ensure access to this information.
The recorded values \u200b\u200bshow a real impact, documented and contrary to the national and provincial environmental regulations. Still, the provincial authorities have not made any statement to date, even approving update again Environmental Impact Report Veladero in November 2010.
CEDHA The report published by the present Government urges the Province San Juan to assume liability for pollution recorded, as well as to control future social and environmental impact of mining activities on its territory.
More Information:
Jorge Daniel Taillant - Coordinator of Mining, Environment and Human Rights
cel. 54 9 351 507 8376
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