DENR: Placer suit won’t affect talks

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said yesterday that the case filed by the provincial government of Marinduque against the Canadian mining firm Placer Dome would not affect its discussions with Marcopper Mining Co.

In fact, the DENR and Marcopper, which is part of Placer Dome’s consortium that had a mineral excavation business in Marinduque, are set to conduct a "joint-scoping" of the polluted mining site to pursue remediation efforts.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Michael Defensor told The STAR that the $100 million the provincial government is seeking in its suit against Placer Dome for rehabilitation is independent of DENR’s claim, although both are aiming for rehabilitation of the area.

"Principally, I am not against the demand of the province but I would like to see first the points raised," Defensor said.

"The move of the provincial government might be due to frustration," he added.

The DENR and Marcopper are currently addressing the technical side of the remediation process recommended by US scientists for the Marcopper Mining site and other adjacent affected areas.

So far, the DENR has written letters to Marcopper demanding a clean-up of the areas. Defensor has also issued a provisional environment compliance certificate (ECC) for Marcopper to undertake the remediation.

Engineer Mike Cabalda, of the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau, said they are now making sure that much-needed rehabilitation would be undertaken at the mine site.

He said talks with Marcopper had been positive as the company agreed to the recommendations of the US scientists, which included short-term and long-term remediation measures. The mining company is also amenable to shouldering the expenses of the repairs.

Cabalda noted that the "joint-scoping" being undertaken by DENR and Marcopper is aimed at determining the appropriate engineering fixes needed for certain structures of the mine site.

"No matter what happens with the case, we still have to do something about the mining area and the problem," Cabalda told The STAR.

Defensor said that talks on other aspects of the remediation process are still ongoing between Marcopper and the DENR technical team.