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A Third Party Group, commissioned by the Mining Rehabilitation
Fund Committee (MRFC) for the Rapu-Rapu Minerals Incorporated/Rapu-Rapu
Processing Incorporated (RRMI/RRPI) or “Lafayette” to
conduct an independent investigation, evaluation, environmental
assessment and systems review of the firm’s operation in
Rapu-Rapu, Albay finally submitted its report to the MRFC the
other week.
Findings of the group showed the firm’s:
Detoxification Circuit, system of reactor and ponds did not meet
Cyanide (CN) standard for final effluent; Frequent pump
breakdowns have already been reported prior to the 2 separate
tailings spills incident at the firm’s tailings pump and
pipeline system; At the time of the incident, holding capacity
of the tailings storage facility is inadequate for an effective
natural degradation of CN to take place given the amount of
rainfall and short-circuiting conditions and proximity of the
sea to the discharge point; The firm
has multi-organizational entities on-site with
overlapping responsibilities in control of environmental aspects
that lead to confusion in pinning accountabilities for
environmental non-compliance; Several risk assessment studies have been undertaken even before the incidents,
particularly on dam structures and operations however, RRPI/RRMI
failed to adequately appreciate the importance of risks
specifically those related to contaminated tails and effluent
discharges, The Environmental Management System (EMS) was
implemented only in September 2005 although there was a
recommendation in 2004 and there is an environmental policy but
no structured management policy to implement it and this was not
understood in various levels of the organization.
The team in its report has recommended, as a
remedial measures: To ensure that the effluent output from the
detoxification circuit, system of reactor and ponds does not
exceed 0.2 mg/L; Improve maintenance of tailings pump and
pipeline system, study applicability of two-stage pumping and
install check valve to prevent backflow of slurry in case of
pump failure; On tailings storage facility-not to rely on
natural degradation within the tailings dams but rather to
operate the detoxification facility to produce 0.2 mg/L CN after
detoxification and ensure that dams can accommodate tailings
plus siltation from operation; On the aspect of
Accountability-there must be sanctions applied to operating
heads that have direct responsibility for the control of the
environmental aspects, discharge of CN laden tails / slurry and
the discharge of dam effluent high in CN; For risk
assessment-implementation of the identified preventive measures
and emergency response plans and Creation of management policy
to implement environmental policy.
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In addition, the group also came up with additional
recommendations affecting the firm’s mining operation,
mill/Carbon-In-Leach (CIL)/base metal and filter plants,
tailings and effluent management (dams), road network, utility
and other services and administration that the company could
adopt in the future.
The
report concluded that: the discharge of CN beyond the DENR
(Department of Environment and Natural Resources) standard
violated existing Anti-Pollution Laws particularly Republic Act
(RA) Numbered 9275 otherwise known as the Clean Water Act and
the environmental provisions of RA 7942 or the Philippine Mining
Act of 1995 and Lafayette can be allowed to resume operations
subject to the condition that it must be able to demonstrate its
capability to comply with all the requirements and standards
required by Law on a sustainable basis.
The
findings of the group complemented the initial findings of the
DENR. The Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee (MRFC) advised the
Company to take into consideration the report and
recommendations of the DENR and the Third Party Group, which
will be necessary in complying with the order of the DENR
Secretary.
It will be recalled that the order of the DENR
Secretary dated January 09,2006 was served by DENR-V Regional
Executive Director Oscar M. Hamada on January 10, 2006 to
Leonardo P. Josef, General Manager for Administration of the
Lafayette Phils. Inc. for violation of anti-pollution laws,
rules and regulation and slapped some P10,700,000.00 in fines.
The investigation, assessment, systems review
including the evaluation of the remedial measures implemented by
the mining firm at its project site in Rapu-Rapu, Albay were
conducted by the Third Party Group on November 30 to December 1
last year in connection with the two (2) separate tailings
spills that occurred on October 11 and 31, 2005 at the Lafayette
mining project in Rapu-Rapu, Albay causing fish kills in nearby
bodies of water.
The 3rd Party Group is composed of: Jake
Foronda, former member of the Board of Metallurgical Engineers;
Joselito Bacani, Chair of the Committee on Environment of the
Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (CMP); Carlos Primo David of
the National Institute of Geological Science at the University
of the Philippines and Marcelo Bolaño, Senior Vice-President
for Mining and Services of Benguet Mining Corporation.
(LDValdez)
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