This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VII, No. 8, March 25-31, 2007
'DENR
decision unscientific, haphazard, and fraught with technical loopholes' BY LISA
ITO A four-person panel of
independent experts recently scrutinized the basis of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR's) for allowing the resumption of full
commercial operations of the Lafayette mine in Rapu-Rapu, Albay and found it
"unscientific, haphazard, and fraught with technical loopholes" at the very
least. The panel was convened last
February by the Center for Environmental Concerns-Philippines (CEC-Phils) and is
composed by four scientific and environmental experts who reviewed and critiqued
the reports that have informed the DENR's decision to reopen the RRPI mine to
full commercial operations: Dr. Carlito R. Barril, retired Professor of
Chemistry at University of the Philippines (UP) in Los Banos, mining engineer
Efren Favila, Dr. Emelina G. Regis, Director for the Institute for Environmental
Conservation and Research (INECAR) of the Ateneo de Naga University and UP
National Institute for Geological Sciences research associate and geologist
Ricarido M. Saturay, Jr. During a forum so-sponsored by
CEC-Phils, nationwide scientists organization AGHAM, and Defend Patrimony last
March 22, the four experts identified major deficiencies and inadequate action
on four respective areas of immediate concern, all of which were not considered
in the DENR evaluation. These are: a. Acid Mine
Drainage (Dr. Barril, et al) b. Biological
Effects of Toxic Heavy metals (Dr. Regis) c. Geological
Hazards (Mr. Saturay) d. Mine
Structures (Engr. Favila) These studies formed the basis
for Environment Sec. Angelo Reyes to issue a Permanent Lifting Order (PLO) last
February, despite vehement objections from Rapu-Rapu folk, Church leaders,
international non-government organizations (NGOs) and environmental and peoples
organizations. CEC-Philippines convened the
panel shortly after the DENR issued the PLO based on the test run evaluation
this February, and refused to approve requests from NGOs and people's
organizations to launch an independent probe in the mine site. "Trash" The experts noted various
technical inconsistencies as well as conceptual and methodological flaws in the
studies. For instance, Dr. Barril, who
reviewed Dr. David's final report in terms of their objective, study design, and
how the study was carried out, reported, and discussed, pointed out that there
were "haphazard, superficial and
indiscriminate AMD prediction tests and in-situ measurements, limited monitoring
scope, sweeping concluding statements that were inconsistent with the data
presented, and premature and ill-advised recommendations". "We find the study made by Dr. David and his
partner as unscientific, carried out haphazardly and superficially, and fraught
with technical loopholes and shortcomings, so much so, that the results
generated are not only so limited but also of doubtful and unreliable quality,"
Dr. Barril said. Saturay noted that the test run
evaluations also failed to take into account the geological factors that may
adversely affect land areas surrounding the mine site and water supply systems,
while Dr. Regis added that the studies do not take into account the mining
operation's projected effects on existing bio-physical conditions in the small
island's ecosystem. Dr. Barril was taken aback at
the lack of technical expertise that the study displayed. "Baka matapon ko lang sa
basurahan ang study na ito. Nakakahiya," (I would have thrown this study
into the trash can. It's shameful) he commented during the forum. Acid Mine Drainage: the
biggest threat All the experts concluded
that—contrary to the reports—Lafayette to date lacks the capability to
effectively manage, abate, and remediate the damage caused by Acid Mine Drainage
(AMD) in Rapu-Rapu. Dr. Barril took note of several
deficiencies in the report, among these, the "lack of a clear study design, lack
of basic principles, absence of AMD's description and control strategies,
absence of an evaluation of AMD control strategies, a faulty and indiscriminate
AMD prediction study, and the absence of any calculations of potential acid
production". He warned of the tendency
towards "cyclic acceleration" of AMD. "Once AMD starts, hindi na ito
mapipigilan dahil yung mismong produkto nito ay nagiging catalyst," (It
cannot be stopped because the product becomes the catalyst.) he said.
Dr. Barril also warned that
millions of tons of acid are expected to be generated in the mine as a result of
AMD. "Based on the results of the
static tests, one (1) kilogram of copper ore can potentially generate more than
1 kilogram of acid," Dr. Barril said. And yet the studies recommended that
costly lime dosing technology and open limestone drains to manage and neutralize
AMD be discouraged. AMD occurring in the open-pit
mine was also overlooked, Dr. Barril said. This is a dangerous development as
the pit will go down below the water table, he said. Mr. Saturay estimated that
the mine pit is expected to go as far down as 50 meters below the sea level. Acid and toxic heavy metals may
reach the groundwater through cracks in the earth caused by strong dynamite
blasting, he added. Toxic threats to life a
"criminal offense" Next to AMD, Dr. Regis stressed
that the unmonitored and unregulated presence of physico-chemical and trace
metals (particularly toxic heavy metals) in the mining-affected areas,
waterways, and ground has an adverse effect on marine species and will continue
to pose a threat to marine and human life in the small island ecosystem.
"The study failed to consider
that AMD dissolves metals lodged in the rock, such as cadmium, zinc, copper,
most of which pose health hazards to people and biota (living organisms). For
example, cadium, which is very high already even in their monitoring, is a
carcinogenic substance," Dr. Barril explained. Dr. Regis agreed, noting that the
monitoring and evaluation by the DENR was only concerned about water testing and
leaks, without including the possibility of heavy metal contamination of soil
and sediments. The fish kills, diseases
affecting the community, and mysterious deaths among the island's marine mammals
are expected to dramatically rise once the heavy metals in AMD takes its toll on
the ecosystem. However, the DENR has failed to address this problem, Dr. Regis
said. "The DENR said that the
documented deaths of marine animals could be addressed by monitoring the water
until its pH level normalizes. It also stated that the normal condition of pH is
achieved through lime dosing. But the problem is that lime dosing only
neutralizes acid. It does not neutralize the heavy metals in water which causes
toxicity and contamination," Dr. Regis explained. Dr. Regis demonstrated the
danger of heavy metal contamination through sampling bio-indicators, or living
organisms that respond to particular environmental conditions. She collected
field samples from metal-affected weeds and grasses in Brgy. Pagcolbon (a
mining-affected area) and other Rapu-Rapu communities located far away from the
mine site. An examination of their cell
structures revealed that metal-contaminated biota contained significantly less
starch and had their structures altered. "Wala nang nutrients ang kinakain ng
mga livestock, tulad ng baka, sa mining-affected areas," (There were
no more nutrients in the grass eaten by livestock in mining-affected areas.) Dr.
Regis said. The heavy metals present in mine
tailings and AMD, such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and zinc,
can be threatening to life once humans and biota are exposed to it in large
amounts, Dr. Regis said. Some effects of toxic heavy
metals on the peoples' health include increased risk for cancer, kidney
pneumonitis, osteomalaise, and hydrocephaly. While chromium, copper and zinc are
essential to the body in small doses, these are poisonous in large doses, Dr.
Regis said. Dr. Regis denounced the mine
reopening as a "criminal offense" because of the long-term fatal effects that it
would cause to human life and to the ecosystem of Rapu-Rapu. Dr. Regis also disputed the
DENR's claims that the Sorsogon fishkills and other fish kill incidents near the
mining site could not be attributed to the Rapu-Rapu mine spill. "Sorsogon is only 12 kilometers
away from the mine site. In the Guimaras oil spill, debris flowed as far as 200
kilometers away due to the habagat (southwest winds) winds," she said,
saying that the mine spill has brought about fish kills, loss of livelihood,
loss of potential tourists, and the diseases as well. Contaminated tailings,
mud, and silt flowing out to sea are killing Rapu-Rapu's coral reefs, she added.
Dr. Regis and her team also
experienced repeated harassment by fully-armed men accompanied by attack dogs
and agents in civilian clothing while conducting the study. They reportedly
refused to let Dr. Regis' team any closer to the mine site. When they were collecting sea
grasses, she recalled, the team also experienced harassment from guards on two
patrol boats and surveillance from suspicious-looking "fishermen". "Nag-fifishing daw sila...kahit
umaalon," (They said they were fishing, even though the waves were strong at
that time) Dr. Regis commented. A Disaster Waiting to Happen Meanwhile, geologist Saturay and
mining engineer Favila warned of the potential disaster that Rapu-Rapu would
face if inadequate mine infrastructures and geologic hazards were combined. Engr.
Favila said that the RRPI mine lacks important emergency infrastructures that
are crucial to preventing another disastrous mine spill. The studies also failed
to consider geological factors that may adversely affect land areas surrounding
the mine site and water supply systems, Mr. Saturay said. Saturay warned that Rapu-Rapu
island's land composition, steep slopes, and rainy climate make it "Mining is a catastrophic
geomorphic event. Mabilis at malakihan ang pagbabago nito sa kalupaan.
Malapit ito sa bingit ng pagguho ng mga kalupaan. Anumang idadagdag sa salik sa
pagguho ay malamang hahantong sa higit pa o paglapit pa sa bingit ng pagguho, o
aktual na pagguho," (It could swiftly create major changes in the land. As
it is, the land here is already near its landslide threshold. Any additional
factor brings it closer to the threshold or may actually trigger a landslide.)
Saturay warned. Saturay also noted that studies
on slope stability were conducted from rock samples inside the mine pit. There
were, however, no studies conducted from samples outside the mine pit, where the
mining-affected communities are located and would be primarily affected in the
event of any landslide-induced tragedy. Saturay also expressed concern
over the effects of toxic metal contamination seeping into Rapu-Rapu's limited
freshwater supply. Engr. Favila warned that the
mine still lacks emergency facilities that were crucial in preventing more mine
spills, such as a spillway and division wall. "When RRPI started to produce
ores, it has no environmental infrastructures in place," Engr. Favila said,
“The RRPI management failed to ensure the construction of emergency
infrastructures for the tailings pond management system and moreover, resorted
to cost-cutting in the use of neutralizing reagents used to treat cyanide.” Engr. Favila attributed the
lack of crucial infrastructure to negligence on the part of the company and the
DENR's monitoring mechanisms. AMD will also cause the
structural strength of the embankment structure to deteriorate, he added,
increasing the risk of breakage. Engr. Favila warned that
previous mining tragedies, such as the Marcopper mine spill which killed the
Boac river in Marinduque, were also brought about by the lack of crucial
infrastructures. Cancel PLO, experts urge
On the basis of the existing
studies' technical flaws, methodological shortcomings and inconclusive results,
the team strongly recommended a repeat of the DENR study and the pursuit of more
detailed studies on the RRPI's mining operation in Rapu-Rapu. "The results of the study are
inconclusive and unreliable and should not have been used as one of the basis
for lifting the suspension order," Dr. Barril said. "Dapat mag-aral muna ang [DENR].
Wala silang karapatang gumawa ng desisyon dahil wala silang alam," Dr.
Regis said of the issuance of the PLO. (The DENR should study it first. They
have no right to issue a decision because they do not know anything about the
issue). "The deficiencies noted by the
experts indicate how RRPI and the DENR rushed the opening of the Lafayette mine
in Rapu-Rapu. This undue haste to open the mine to commercial operations has put
the lives of the island's residents and its marine and terrestrial ecosystems
into more danger than before," Kalikasan-PNE National Coordinator Clemente
Bautista, Jr. said. Bautista stressed that "the
unremediated deficiencies and unresolved problems with the mine (such as the
lack of emergency infrastructure noted by Engr. Favila) practically guarantees
another mine spill". "The people of Rapu-rapu are
living next to an environmental time bomb with the mine's reopening and with the
onset of AMD. We could be dealing with another environmental disaster as large
if not larger than the Marcopper tragedy in Marinduque in the mid-90s," Bautista
warned. The experts also recommended
further study into the issue. Dr. Barril recommended a repeat of the previous
studies done, this time to be undertaken by a technically-competent team.
"[More] detailed studies may be exhaustive and expensive but it is a justified
pre-requisite for mining in a small tropical island with a significant
population depending on the island's limited resources," Saturay added.
Dr. Regis also urged the RRPI's
remediation of the Acid Mine Drainage now seen in waterways in mining-affected
areas. He also advised concerned citizens to demand that company officials take
responsibility and be held accountable for any mining-related untoward incidents
that may occur. "No mining must ever be allowed
in Rapu-Rapu. The government must also rehabilitate the degraded ecosystems,
because they issued the PLO," Dr. Regis said. Bulatlat © 2007 Bulatlat
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Experts Find
No Scientific Basis for Rapu-Rapu Mine Re-opening
BulatlatThe four
issued separate reviews of various DENR documents evaluating the test runs. Dr.
Barril reviewed the Final Report of Carlos Primo c. David and Rustica G. Romero
on The Evaluation of RRPI's Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Abatement And Control
Strategies. Mr. Saturay reviewed the 2006 Test Run of the Rapu-Rapu
Polymetallic Project. Dr. Regis reviewed the Evaluation Report of the Mines
and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), on the Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project under the
test run conditions (dated Dec. 19, 2006).
naturally predisposed to landslides. This threshold would be further affected
and significantly lowered by the massive earth movements caused by the
simultaneous dynamite-blasting and open-pit mining.