"We are still working closely with the government to meet the government’s requirements for us to re-open our mining operations," said Lafayette country manager Rod Watt, adding that despite the delay in the resumption of its activities, the polymettalic project in Albay remains on track.
The mining company’s operations were suspended by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Region 5 after two mining spill incidents in October of last year which leaked about five cubic meters of mine effluents containing cyanide into nearby creeks.
Roderick Salazar, president of Rapu-Rapu Minerals. Inc., the local unit of Lafayette, said the company is now looking at other options with the recent order of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources‚ (DENR) Pollution Adjudication and Control Board (PAB) to pay P10.4 million as penalty for violating provisions of the Clean Water Act, following two mine spills in the area last October.
"In adherence to our company policy, we will continue to work with government and the local community to complete the process by which we can safely and confidently return to commissioning the base metals plant in the near term," Salazar said.
He expressed optimism that once the company meets all the requirements and is allowed to resume operations, "we can deliver the type of production that will sustain profitability and local employment as well as provide important local and national benefit."
"We are quite confident that the government will give us the opportunity to rectify whatever concerns the DENR has before Rapu Rapu can return to commissioning and base metals production," added Salazar.
Aside from the P10.4-million fine, the mining company was also required to submit an International Organization for Standardization or ISO certification before it can resume operations.
The ISO is the world’s largest developer of standards. The standards developed are useful to industrial and business organizations of all types as well as to government’s and other regulatory bodies.
In the Jan. 9 order of the PAB, Lafayette was imposed the maximum penalty of P200,000 per day of violation from Oct. 11 to Dec. 14, 2005. The P10.4 million fine was on top of the P300,000 earlier imposed by the EMB in Region 5 for violation of conditions under Lafayette’s environmental compliance certificate.
EMB Director Lolibeth Medrano said the P10.4 million fine against Lafayette is to date the biggest penalty imposed by the DENR for violation of the Clean Water Act.
The PAB order added that Lafayette will not be allowed to operate and discharge wastewater until the full rehabilitation of its settling ponds and polishing and events ponds.
The suspension order will remain until the completion of the following requirements: Submission of an Environmental Management System or an ISO 14001 certification; submission of a comprehensive pollution control program which will include specifications on the budget and the antipollution facility it will use; a surety bond equivalent to 25 percent of the total cost of the pollution control program it will undertake; a detailed description of the interim remedial measure to mitigate the pollution caused; and proof of employment of a pollution control officer accredited by the DENR.