Mining

Collective Statement to the Colombian government on the collapse of Law 1382

The organizations and persons behind the Statement express our concerns to the Colombian government about the implications of the collapse of the Mining Code in effect since May 11, 2012 (Law 1382, 2010) and the consequent return to the previous Mining Code (Law 685 2001), particularly as concerns the serious consequences to the country’s environment (detailed in the document).   To prevent these impacts, we urge you to take the following steps: Present in the shortest time possible a draft of the Mining Code that overcomes the deficiencies of mining regulations and brings the legislation into line with the duties of biodiversity and water protection, while previously guaranteeing that ethnic groups have the right to free, prior and informed consultation. Maintain the moratorium on mining permits until a new Mining Code is submitted and approved. Immediately decree a moratorium on environmental licenses in order to avoid the elimination of environmental protection clauses. Statement available in Spanish only. 

Colombian Ministry of Mines announces wetlands protection from open pit mining

Bogotá, Colombia – Colombia has signaled it will halt construction of one of the world’s largest open-pit gold and other metals mine. In a surprisingly bold step March 17, Colombia’s Minister of Mines Carlos Rodado announced “Pursuant to Colombian law, mining projects cannot be developed in wetlands areas.” If enforced, this would prevent construction of the massive Angostura mine in the Santander department, on the Santurban paramo.   "This is an important step in fulfilling Colombia’s obligations to its constitution and international wetlands protections,” said Natalia Jiménez Galindo, AIDA's legal adviser in Bogotá. “The State should refrain from approving any phase of the Angostura project, including any additional infrastructure."   If built, the Angostura mine would jeopardize the Santurban paramo, a sensitive high-altitude wetland that supply freshwater to more than 1 million people in nearby communities. In collaboration with various partners, AIDA has advocated for the protection of the paramo ecosystems against mining and provided related legal advice to organizations and sending to the authorities an analysis on the international law applicable.   “We applaud the Ministry of Mines for recognizing the prohibition against mining in paramos and we expect this will be reflected in an official decision” said Astrid Puentes Co- Director of AIDA. “This will send a strong message from the Government that it is truly interested in protecting paramos and making a difference in climate change”.   AIDA calls upon the Colombian government to formally reject the entire Angostura mine project as proposed by Greystar Resources Corporation of Canada. This is the only decision consistent with the norms, the pronouncement by the Ministry of Mines and the Alexander von Humboldt Institute concept.

The Colombian Government Should Reject the Angosture Mining Project in the Páramos (Spanish Text Only)

PARA PUBLICACION INMEDIATA CONTACTO: Natalia Jiménez, [email protected] Teléfono: (+57) 310-5734176 El Estado colombiano debe rechazar proyecto de gran minería de oro "Angostura" en zona de páramo Desconocería obligaciones constitucionales internacionales   Marzo 4 de 2011, Bucaramanga, Colombia – Hoy, La Asociación Interamericana para la Defensa del Ambiente (AIDA) instará al gobierno colombiano a detener un proyecto de gran minería de oro y otros metales que sería un precedente perjudicial para los ecosistemas frágiles en América Latina. El proyecto de minería a cielo abierto Angostura, planeado en el páramo de Santurbán, se encuentra en proceso de aprobación por parte del Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial colombiano. Hoy se celebra una audiencia pública en la que el Ministerio recibirá argumentos de diferentes sectores. AIDA argumentará que las obligaciones internacionales y constitucionales del Estado colombiano de proteger el ambiente, especialmente áreas de gran importancia ecológica como los páramos, impiden la autorización. "Los páramos son ecosistemas altamente frágiles y la minería a cielo abierto causaría daños graves e irreversibles," dijo Natalia Jiménez, abogada de AIDA. "De acuerdo con la Constitución Política y los Principios de Río, la Convención de Biodiversidad y la de Cambio Climático, todos ratificados por Colombia, el Estado está obligado a conservar los páramos y procurar su intangibilidad." De ser aprobado el proyecto Angostura afectaría de forma definitiva por lo menos 575 ha del páramo de Santurbán (más del 50%), pudiendo afectar un área mayor. En Colombia, como en el resto de la región Andina en los páramos se origina la mayor parte del agua dulce que consumen los habitantes. Tienen una alta capacidad de purificar el ambiente, de estabilizar los suelos y el clima, de prevenir los deslaves y los derrumbes y de contener un alto nivel de animales y plantas. En efecto, son el hábitat de especies únicas en el mundo como el oso de anteojos y el cóndor de los Andes. La Procuraduría General de Colombia, miembros del Parlamento Andino y ex ministros de ambiente, así como organizaciones y expertos ambientales se oponen a la licencia. El proyecto carece de un adecuado Estudio de Impacto Ambiental integral, pues los impactos de la mina y los de la infraestructura complementaria, se analizan en dos procesos de forma fragmentada. Por ello, AIDA también solicita que el Ministerio los unifique y analice el impacto global del proyecto. Así lo ordenan los estándares internacionales y la Corte Suprema de Canadá, país de origen de la empresa Greystar Resources Ltds. que promueve el proyecto. La misión de AIDA es fortalecer la capacidad de las personas para garantizar su derecho individual y colectivo a un ambiente sano por medio del desarrollo, aplicación y cumplimiento efectivo de la legislación nacional e internacional. La protección de agua dulce es una de nuestras líneas mediante la cual buscamos proteger el derecho al agua y asegurar recursos de agua dulce adecuados para las comunidades y los ecosistemas en las Américas. AIDA, 426 17th Street, Oakland, CA 94612 T. (510) 550-6753, F. (510) 550-6740 AIDA Atlixco 138, Col. Condesa, México, DF, 06140, T/F (5255) 52120141 AIDA Diagonal 40 A No 14 – 75, Tel. (57 1) 3381277, Bogotá - Colombia AIDA Costa Rica, San Pedro c/o Centro de Derecho Ambiental y de los Recursos Naturales (CEDARENA) T. (506) 22837080 E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.aida-americas.org

Victory: Crucitas gold mine cancelled for environmental harm

Victory: Biosphere Reserve in Baja California Saved from Toxic Mine

Guidebook for Evaluating Mining Project EIAs

Most countries require an environmental impact assessment (EIA) before giving the green light to a mining project. EIA processes provide a valuable opportunity for citizens to participate in decisions about mines. The problem is, project proponents often submit long, complex EIA documents that are incomprehensible to lay people. The Guidebook for Evaluating Mining Project EIAs will help public interest lawyers, grassroots advocates, and community members understand mining EIAs, identify flaws in mining project plans, and explore ways that mining companies can reduce the public health hazards associated with mining. Read and download

Victory: Canada supports public participation and environmental assessment

Hardrock Mining: Acid Mine Drainage

Factsheet on acid mine drainage, mining's most serious threat to water resources. A mine with acid drainage has the potential for long-term devastating impacts on rivers, streams and aquatic life. Acid mine drainage is a concern at many metal mines, because metals such as gold, copper, silver and molybdenum, are often found in rock with sulfide minerals. When the sulfides in the rock are excavated and exposed to water and air during mining, they form sulfuric acid. This acidic water can dissolve other harmful metals in the surrounding rock. If uncontrolled, the acid mine drainage may runoff into streams or rivers or leach into groundwater. Acid mine drainage may be released from any part of the mine where sulfides are exposed to air and water, including waste rock piles, tailings, open pits, underground tunnels, and leach pads. Read and download  

Tarnished Gold: mining and the unmet promise of development

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) continues to dress up money-making gold mining investments as development, yet it fails to demonstrate how these projects actually reduce poverty. The Bank Information Center, Oxfam Internacional, Earthworks, Campagna Per La Riforma Della Banca Mondiale and the Bretton Woods Project challenge the IFC to “prove it” by reporting its development impacts on a project-by-project basis. Read and download

Predicting Water Quality at Hardrock Mines

This study reviews the methods and models used to predict water quality at hardrock mine sites, with an emphasis on the state of the art and on advantages and limitations of these techniques. Because water quantity and quality are interrelated, methods and models used to predict water quantity will also be discussed, but the emphasis will be on how these methods relate to water quality.   This study brings together technical information on water-quality predictions at mine sites in a single report, and attempts to present a straight forward approach to using and evaluating the results of the methods and models used to predict water quality at mine sites. Approaches developed primarily in the United States, Canada, and Australia and applied in these countries and in other parts of the world, especially in the last 10 years, are discussed, and the format of the study is geared toward use by regulators of hardrock mines.   The approach and results of this study could also be used by environmental managers at mine sites and community groups, and allows for the creation of a checklist for prediction methodology used at mine sites. Recommendations are made for improvements in water quality prediction methods and models.   Read and download