Newmont's Batu Hijau mine receives top environmental rating

US top miner Newmont Mining Corp. said on Friday thatits unit PT. Newmont Nu8sa Tenggara (NNT) which operates Batu Hijau copper and gold mine had received a ?Green? rating in PROPER, national environmental performance rating program. NNT was one of only 8 companies out of 85 audited nationally to achieve this high rating.

?The Green rating indicates that the company has implemented pollution and/or damage control programs and has successfully exceeded the fulfillment of specified requirements as governed by prevailing laws and regulations,? The head of West Nusa Tenggara province?s Environmental Impact Control Agency, Agus Yusuf said.

The team of PROPER program assessed PTNNT?s performance in environmental management and in community development. The assessment was followed by a site verification by visiting Batu Hijau and interviewing various people in PTNNT and in the community.

In environmental management, PTNNT is rated as having demonstrated full compliance in water pollution control, air pollution control and hazardous waste management.

In community development aspect, the team commended on PTNNT?s community development programs. (alex)