Newmont operation should be reviewed
Wednesday, September 13 2000 - 03:30 AM WIB
An independent team assigned to examine the environmental impact of the United States-based PT Newmont Minahasa Raya's dumping site in the Buyat Bay, North Sulawesi has concluded that the pollution resulted from the company's marine dumping site in the area had exceeded the maximum level set by the government, Manado Pos reported on Wednesday.
According to the team, the operations of the mining company should be reviewed because the pollution resulted from the company's tailings could cause a serious threat to human lives.
The team carried out its study in late 1999 but its results had not been publicly disclosed. A leakage in the result of the survey had, however, caused a controversy, prompting the establishment of a second independent team.
The controversy over the company's marine dumping site became more imminent after the second team issued the result of its survey. Unlike with the first team, the second team concluded that the pollution level resulted from the company's tailings was still below the maximum standards set by the government.
PT Newmont also carried out its own survey and its result also indicated that the pollution at the water area surrounding the company's dumping site was still below the maximum level. (*)