Environmental watchdog says Freeport tailing not toxic

Irian Jaya environmental impact assessment agency (Bappedalda) said on Tuesday that tailings released by giant copper and gold mining PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) had thus far showed no indication of containing toxic materials.

?Several studies had been conducted by the government and consultants from Indonesia and overseas. The results showed that there is no toxic material detected in the tailing,? said D. Dimara, Irian Jaya?s Bappedalda head on a tailing seminar organized by Eco Bumi Nusantara in Jakarta.

PTFI, a subsidiary of New Orleans based gold and copper miner Freeport McMoRan operates a giant mine in Irian Jaya and released some 240,000 tons of tailings daily through nearby rivers. (alex/godang).